Types of Hearing Loss

There are three types of hearing loss i.e., conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss and mixed hearing loss

Conductive Hearing Loss

Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound transmission is affected due to a pathology in the ear canal or in the middle ear. This type of hearing loss can often be medically or surgically corrected. Conductive hearing loss occurs due to impacted ear wax, infection in the ear canal, fungus in the ear canal, foreign body in the canal, absence or malformation of the outer or middle ear, fluid in the middle ear, eustachian tube dysfunction, perforated eardrum & benign tumors.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is damage to the inner ear (cochlea) or to the hearing nerve.Sensorineural hearing loss can be caused by genetic syndromes, diseases, noise exposure, viral infection, head trauma, aging, tumors, birth injury, drugs that are toxic to the auditory system etc.

Mixed Hearing Loss

Conductive hearing loss co-existing with sensorineural hearing loss is called mixed hearing loss.