Types of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is the inability to hear in one or both ears. Every hearing loss is different and ranges in severity. There are also different types of hearing losses. Three most common types of hearing loss are sensorineural, conductive, and mixed.
- Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by damage to the cochlea in the inner ear or damage to the hearing nerve. This can occur due to illness, medications, head trauma, or exposure to loud noise. Sensorineural hearing loss can also happen naturally, as the result of the aging process. This type of hearing loss is the most common and responds well to hearing aids.
- Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound cannot be conducted through the outer and middle ear to the inner ear. This is usually the result of impacted earwax, fluid in the middle ear, ruptured eardrum, ear infections, trauma to the eardrum, or allergies. Conductive hearing loss is typically treated with surgery or with an antibiotic.
- Mixed hearing loss is a combination of sensorineural and conductive. First the conductive portion would need to be treated by a physician and then we can help manage the sensorineural portion with hearing aids.
Signs of Hearing Loss
For many people, hearing loss occurs gradually, over the course of a few years. For this reason, it can be difficult to recognize that you have hearing loss because you have become accustomed to not hearing certain sounds or frequencies. If you have experienced a combination of the following, then it’s time to have your hearing checked.
- You can hear but you lack clarity
- Words seem muffled or incomplete
- It’s hard to hear when there is background noise
- You have to turn the TV up to hear
- You feel tired after conversations
- You hear a ringing in your ears
- You often ask people to repeat themselves
Hearing and Brain Health
Hearing Loss in Children
At Valley Hearing Center, we provide comprehensive hearing services to patients of all ages, including children. Your child’s hearing is important for their social, emotional, and cognitive development. If you think your child has a hearing loss, bring them in for a hearing evaluation. Our audiologist and hearing specialists have years of experience helping children with hearing loss.
It’s important to recognize the signs of hearing loss in your child. Some indications of hearing loss include:
- They are inattentive
- They have limited, poor, or no speech
- They fail to respond to conversation-level speech
- They have difficulty learning
- They don’t respond to their name
- They need to have the TV at a higher volume
- They become frustrated when there is background noise
If your child has shown any of these signs, please contact us for an appointment.