• Understanding the ear
• Understanding the causes of hearing loss
• Types of hearing loss
• Diagnosis of hearing loss
• Treating hearing loss

Types of hearing loss

There are basically two types of hearing loss: One is caused by problems with the sound reaching the inner ear; since the sound travels there via conduction, this is called conductive hearing loss. It's the far less common type of hearing loss.

Much more common is sensorineural hearing loss. This is often called nerve deafness, even though the auditory nerve is almost never the cause. The problem is usually in the hair cells of the cochlea.

Conductive Hearing Loss

Conductive Hearing Loss is interference with the transmission of sound from the outer to the inner ear. Causes can include:

• middle ear infections (otitis media)
• collection of fluid in the middle ear ("glue ear" in children)
• blockage of the outer ear (by wax)
• damage to the eardrum by infection or an injury

In many cases this type of hearing loss will benefit from the use of a hearing aid system, sometimes in conjunction with medication and/or surgery. Furthermore in some cases of conductive hearing loss surgery and/or medication is the only option.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Most hearing losses are so called sensorineural hearing losses caused by poor hair cell function in the inner ear. The hair cells in the inner ear can be either abnormal at birth or – in most cases – damaged during the lifetime of a person. Causes of damage are for example constant noise exposure, noise trauma, infections etc.

Sensorineural hearing losses are irreversible and are treated using hearing aids. Tremendous advances in hearing instrument technology enable most patients to be significantly rehabilitated.