What are the common types of hearing loss?
The external and the middle ear conduct and transform sound; the inner ear receives it. There can be problem in any part of the ear. When there is a problem in the external or middle ear, a conductive hearing impairment occurs. When the problem is in the inner ear, a sensorineural or hair cell loss is the result. Difficulty in both the middle and inner ear results in a mixed hearing impairment (i.e. conductive and a sensorineural impairment). Central hearing loss has more to do with the brain than the ear.
The external and the middle ear conduct sound. When there is a problem in the external or middle ear, a conductive hearing impairment occurs. When the problem is in the inner ear, a sensorineural loss is the result. Difficulty in both the middle and inner ear results in a mixed hearing impairment (conductive and sensorineural impairment). Central hearing loss has more to do with the brain than the ear, and will be discussed only briefly. Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound is not conducted efficiently through the ear canal, eardrum, or tiny bones of the middle ear, resulting in a reduction of the loudness of perceived sound. Conductive losses may result from earwax blocking the ear canal, fluid in the middle ear, middle ear infection, obstructions in the ear canal, perforations (hole) in the eardrum membrane, or disease of any of the three middle ear bones. A person with conductive hearing loss may notice their ears seem to be full or plugged. This person may speak softly because
