Have you ever seen a t-shirt advertised as “one size fits all” but when you went to try it on, you were discouraged to find that it didn’t fit at all? That’s truly aggravating. There aren’t really very many “one size fits all” with anything in the real world. That’s not only true with clothing, it’s also true with medical conditions such as hearing loss. There can be many reasons why it occurs.
So what are the most prevalent types of hearing loss and what causes them? Well, that’s exactly what we intend to explore.
Hearing loss comes in different kinds
Everybody’s hearing loss situation will be as unique as they are. Maybe you hear just fine at the office, but not in a noisy restaurant. Or maybe you only have trouble with high-pitched voices or low-pitched sounds. There are a wide variety of forms that your hearing loss can take.
The root cause of your hearing loss will determine how it manifests. Any number of things can go wrong with an organ as intricate as the ear.
How your hearing works
Before you can completely understand how hearing loss works, or what degree of hearing loss requires a hearing aid, it’s helpful to consider how things are supposed to function, how your ear is typically supposed to work. Check out this breakdown:
- Outer ear: This is the visible part of the ear. It’s where you are first exposed to a “sound”. Sounds are effectively guided into your middle ear for further processing due to the shape of your outer ear.
- Middle ear: The middle ear consists of your eardrum and several tiny ear bones (yes, you have bones in your ear, but they are admittedly very, very tiny).
- Inner ear: This is where your stereocilia are found. Vibration is detected by these delicate hairs which are then converted into electrical energy. Your cochlea helps here, also. These electrical signals are then carried to your brain.
- Auditory nerve: This nerve directs these electrical signals to the brain.
- Auditory system: All of the parts listed above, from your brain to your outer ear, are elements of your “auditory system”. It’s important to understand that all of these parts are continually working together and in concert with one another. Typically, in other words, the whole system will be impacted if any one part has issues.
Hearing loss types
Because there are numerous parts of your auditory system, there are (as a result) numerous forms of hearing loss. The underlying cause of your hearing loss will determine which type of hearing loss you develop.
Here are some of the most prevalent causes:
- Conductive hearing loss: This kind of hearing loss occurs because there’s a blockage somewhere in the auditory system, often in the middle or outer ear. Usually, this blockage is a consequence of fluid or inflammation (when you have an ear infection, for instance, this typically happens). A growth in the ear can occasionally cause conductive hearing loss. Normally, with conductive hearing loss, your hearing will go back to normal once the blockage is gone.
- Sensorineural hearing loss: When your ears are damaged by loud noise, the tiny hair cells which detect sound, called stereocilia, are destroyed. Normally, this is a chronic, progressive and irreversible type of hearing loss. Because of this, individuals are usually encouraged to prevent this type of hearing loss by wearing ear protection. If you’re dealing with sensorineural hearing loss, it can still be managed by devices like hearing aids.
- Mixed hearing loss: It’s also possible to experience a combination of sensorineural hearing loss and conductive hearing loss. Because the hearing loss is coming from several different places, this can sometimes be difficult to manage.
- Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder: ANSD is a fairly rare condition. It occurs when the cochlea does not effectively transmit sounds from your ear to your brain. ANSD can usually be managed with a device known as a cochlear implant.
Each form of hearing loss requires a different treatment strategy, but the desired results are often the same: improving your hearing ability.
Variations on hearing loss kinds
And that isn’t all! Any of these normal types of hearing loss can be categorized further (and more specifically). For example, hearing loss can also be classified as:
- Unilateral or bilateral hearing loss: This means you’re either going through hearing loss in only one ear (unilateral) or both ears (bilateral).
- Fluctuating or stable: Fluctuating hearing loss describes hearing loss that appears and disappears. If your hearing loss stays at about the same levels, it’s known as stable.
- Progressive or sudden: Hearing loss that slowly worsens over time is called “progressive”. Hearing loss that erupts or shows up immediately is known as “sudden”.
- High frequency vs. low frequency: You may have more trouble hearing high or low-frequency sounds. Your hearing loss can then be categorized as one or the other.
- Symmetrical or asymmetrical: If your hearing loss is the same in both ears it’s symmetrical and if it isn’t the same in both ears it’s asymmetrical.
- Congenital hearing loss: Hearing loss you were born with.
- Acquired hearing loss: Hearing loss that happens as a consequence of outside forces (like damage).
- Pre-lingual or post-lingual: If your hearing loss developed before you learned to speak, it’s called pre-lingual. Hearing loss is post-lingual when it develops after you learned to talk. This can have ramifications for treatment and adaptation.
If that seems like a lot, it’s because it is. The point is that each categorization helps us more precisely and effectively treat your symptoms.
Time to get a hearing test
So how can you tell which type, and what sub-type, of hearing loss you have? Self-diagnosis of hearing loss isn’t, unfortunately, something that is at all accurate. As an example, is your cochlea functioning properly, how would you know?
But that’s what hearing tests are for! It’s like when you have a check engine light on in your car and you take it to a skilled auto technician. We can help you identify what type of hearing loss you’re dealing with by connecting you to a wide range of modern technology.
So contact us today and make an appointment to figure out what’s going on.
References
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/hearingloss/types.html
https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/types-of-hearing-loss/