{"id":2506,"date":"2021-03-04T13:17:09","date_gmt":"2021-03-04T18:17:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.entofathens.com\/?p=2506"},"modified":"2021-03-04T13:17:12","modified_gmt":"2021-03-04T18:17:12","slug":"understanding-the-types-of-hearing-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.entofathens.com\/understanding-the-types-of-hearing-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding the Types of Hearing Loss"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In order for you to receive treatment for your hearing loss, a Georgia Hearing Center audiologist must first determine what type of loss<\/a> you\u2019re experiencing. Below we provide an overview of the causes and corresponding treatments of the three types of hearing loss: sensorineural, conductive and mixed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sensorineural Hearing Loss<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Sensorineural hearing loss<\/a> is the most common type of hearing loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within the inner ears are tiny hairs called stereocilia, which convert soundwaves into electrical energy that travels via the auditory nerve to the brain to be interpreted as sound. When the stereocilia or auditory nerve become damaged \u2013 often due to noise exposure, ototoxic medications or the natural aging process \u2013 the result is sensorineural hearing loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other causes of sensorineural hearing loss include genetic syndromes, infections passed from mother to baby, traumatic injuries, autoimmune diseases, acoustic neuroma and Meniere\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there is no cure for sensorineural hearing loss, it can be effectively treated with hearing aids or cochlear implants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conductive Hearing Loss<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Conductive hearing loss is less common and is caused by some sort of obstruction within the outer or middle ear that prevents sound from passing through. Conductive hearing loss may be temporary or permanent, depending on the cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outer ear causes include earwax impaction, swimmer\u2019s ear, foreign objects in the ear, stenosis (narrowing of the ear canal) and exostoses (bone-like protrusions that can develop in the ear canal).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Middle ear causes include rupture of the eardrum, middle ear infection, blockages in the Eustachian tubes, abnormal growths\/tumors, tympanosclerosis (thickening of eardrum) and otosclerosis (malformation of the stapes).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the above causes, like an ear infection, can be easily remedied. For obstructions caused by tumors or bone growths, surgery may be an effective option. In other cases, standard hearing aids or bone-anchored hearing aids may be recommended by a Georgia Hearing Center clinician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mixed Hearing Loss<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mixed hearing loss is just as how it sounds \u2013 a combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss. This may occur for many reasons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n