Did you know that 1 in 5 people have some degree of hearing loss? Hearing loss is a medical condition that reduces capacity to hear and process speech as well as sound. It is one of the most common health conditions that people live with today. Though it is common, it still remains widely undertreated. Only a third of people who could benefit from treatment actually receive it. Learning more about hearing loss can increase awareness as well as support the prioritization of hearing health.
Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss occurs in the outer and/or middle part of the ear. It happens when the natural flow of sound is obstructed and soundwaves aren’t able to reach the inner ear. This prevents soundwaves from being further processed and sent to the brain, causing hearing loss.
- Causes: there are several factors that can cause conductive hearing loss. This includes: earwax that accumulates in the ear canal, ear infections, a perforated eardrum or other issues involving the eardrum, fluid build up in the space between the eardrum and cochlea, issues with the ossicles (three tiny bones in the middle ear), foreign objects in the ear (common among children) etc.
- Symptoms: conductive hearing loss can produce various symptoms including: sudden or steady loss of hearing, dizziness, sounds and speech sound muffled, pain or tenderness in the ear, fluid or drainage of the ear, feeling that your ears are full, and pressure in the ears. These symptoms make it harder to hear and navigate communication.
- Treatment Options: being diagnosed with conductive hearing loss starts by being assessed by a specialist like an ENT (ear, nose, throat) doctor or audiologist. The exact treatment option will depend on the underlying cause. Options may include: surgical interventions to repair the eardrum, middle ear bones, lesions etc. as well as removing earwax.
Conductive hearing loss is often temporary. Underlying causes are usually treatable in ways that restore hearing.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss happens in the inner portion of the ear. It occurs when sensory cells in the cochlea are damaged. There are thousands of these cells which play a critical role in how sound is processed. They convert incoming soundwaves into electrical signals which get sent to the brain. The brain is then able to further process these signals which includes assigning meaning to them, allowing us to understand what we hear. When sensory cells are damaged, their capacity to effectively process soundwaves is impacted, resulting in the brain receiving less auditory information which causes hearing loss.
- Causes: there are several factors that can cause sensorineural hearing loss including: aging, one time or regular exposure to loud noise, medical conditions (cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, hypertension, diabetes), chronic ear infections, head injuries, inner ear disorders, autoimmune conditions, ototoxic medications, and more.
- Symptoms: this type of hearing loss produces a number of symptoms including tinnitus (ringing or buzzing noise in the ears), sounds are slurred or distorted, difficulty hearing in environments with background noise, frequently asking others to repeat what they said, increasing the volume on electronic devices, being able to hear more clearly out of one ear compared to the other, lip reading to help identify individual words, and pretending to hear to get through a conversation.
- Treatment Options: sensorineural hearing loss is a permanent type of hearing loss. This means that it is not curable but there are effective ways that it is treated. The most common treatment is hearing aids which are electronic devices that are designed to absorb, amplify, and process speech as well as sound. This provides the ears and brain with significant support, alleviating symptoms and increasing capacity to hear.
Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type of hearing loss. It accounts for 90% of the hearing loss that people experience today. In addition to hearing aids, there is a range of hearing technologies and accessories that support hearing health.
Prioritize Your Hearing Health Today
It is important to prioritize hearing health. You can do this with one simple step: scheduling an appointment for a hearing test. Hearing tests involve a painless process that measures hearing capacities in both ears. This identifies any hearing loss and establishes a baseline for your hearing health. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for a hearing consultation!