Types of Hearing Loss: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & When to Get a Hearing Test
Hearing is really important to us. We use it to talk to our family and friends. Hearing is also how we enjoy music and all the other sounds we hear every day. Good hearing is a part of our daily lives. It helps us connect with people and the world, around us. Hearing is how we experience all the things that happen around us from talking to our family to listening to our music.
Hearing loss can happen to anyone no matter how old they are. It can happen slowly. It can happen all of a sudden. A lot of people do not pay attention to the signs of hearing loss. They think it is just because they are getting older or that they have a problem with their ears.
There are actually different kinds of hearing loss. Each kind of hearing loss has reasons why it happens and different ways to treat it.
Understanding what kind of hearing loss we have is the step to getting the right kind of hearing care. We need to understand what kind of hearing loss we have so we can get the treatment, for our hearing loss.
What Is Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss is a reduced ability to hear or understand sounds. It can happen in one ear or in both ears. The hearing loss can be a bit of a problem or it can be very bad.
Some people have trouble hearing sounds. Other people can hear sounds fine but they have a hard time understanding what people are saying. Especially when it is loud, around them.
The three major types of hearing loss are:
- Conductive Hearing Loss
- Sensorineural Hearing Loss
- Mixed Hearing Loss
Let’s understand each type in detail.
1. Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss happens when sound is not able to move through the outer ear or the middle ear to get to the inner ear.
This kind of hearing loss can be temporary, in some cases. Can be fixed based on what is causing it.
Common Causes of Conductive Hearing Loss
Some common causes include:
· much earwax collecting in the ear
- Infections that happen in the ear
- Water or liquid getting stuck in the middle part of the ear
- A hole or tear in the eardrum
- Foreign objects in the ear
- Issues with the tiny bones that are in the middle of the ear
- Abnormal bone growth in the ear
Common Symptoms
People with conductive hearing loss may experience:
- Less volume when hearing sounds
- A feeling like the ear is blocked or full
- Trouble hearing quiet sounds
- Sounds that seem unclear or not clear
- Pain or discomfort, in some situations
The right treatment depends on what is causing the problem. It can involve care taking out earwax using medicine or other actions suggested by a hearing expert or a doctor.
2. Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss is when the inner ear gets hurt, the cochlea or the nerve that helps us hear. This nerve is very important because it sends sound to the brain. Sensorineural hearing loss is the kind of hearing loss that does not go away. It just stays with you.
Sensorineural hearing loss is a problem.
Causes of Sensorineural Hearing Loss
It can be caused by:
- Our bodies get older and that can cause age-related changes
- We are around sounds for a long time
- Some medications can be bad for our ears
- Head or ear injuries
- Genetic factors
- Certain diseases or infections can hurt our ears
- Prolonged exposure to workplace noise
One of the biggest challenges with sensorineural hearing loss is that a person may be able to hear sounds but still have difficulty understanding speech clearly, especially in restaurants, meetings, crowded areas, or other noisy environments.
Depending on the hearing assessment, hearing aids and other hearing solutions may help improve communication and quality of life.
3. Mixed Hearing Loss
Mixed hearing loss is a combination of two types of hearing loss conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss.
This means that someone with hearing loss has both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.
For instance a person may have hearing loss due to their age and also have an ear infection that causes conductive hearing loss or they may have a lot of earwax that causes conductive hearing loss.
Because two types of hearing problems are involved, treatment depends on the underlying causes and the severity of hearing loss.
A professional can do a hearing evaluation to figure out the way to treat the mixed hearing loss.
What Are the Signs of Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss doesn’t always happen suddenly. In many cases, the signs develop gradually, making them easy to overlook.
You may have hearing loss if you:
- Often need people to say things again.
- Like to have the TV or phone turned up loud.
- Have trouble understanding talks when there is a lot of noise around.
- Think that people are not talking clearly or not loud enough.
- Avoid social conversations because they are difficult to follow
- Hear ringing or buzzing in the ears.
- Use lip reading to understand people
- Have a time hearing high-pitched sounds like some voices or common noises.
If you notice these signs, it may be time to consider a professional hearing test.
Can Hearing Loss Be Prevented?
Hearing loss is something that can happen to anyone.. The good thing is that we can do things to reduce the risk of hearing damage from loud noises.
Here are some simple ways to protect your hearing:
- We should not listen to sounds for a long time.
- When we are at work and it is noisy we should wear the kind of hearing protection.
- We have to be careful, with the volume when we use headphones and earphones and keep it at a level.
- Sometimes we need to give our ears a rest from noises.
- We should not put things inside our ears to clean them it is not an idea.
- If we notice that our hearing is not the same we should get our hearing checked to see what is going on with our hearing.
Why Is Early Hearing Evaluation Important?
Not paying attention to hearing problems can do more than just hurt your hearing. When you have trouble following what people are saying it can be really frustrating. Cause problems when you talk to others and you might not want to be, around people as much.
Getting a hearing test can help figure out if you have hearing loss how bad it is and which part of your hearing is not working right.
If you find out about hearing problems you can start taking care of your hearing sooner.
Get Your Hearing Checked at Shruti Hearing Care
Hearing loss is not the same for everyone. Understanding whether it is conductive, sensorineural, or mixed hearing loss can help you take the right next step.
If you or someone in your family is experiencing difficulty hearing, don’t simply ignore the signs. A professional hearing evaluation can help you understand your hearing better and explore suitable solutions.
For hearing evaluation and professional hearing care, visit Shruti Hearing Care.
Hear Better. Connect Better. Live Better.
Take the first step toward better hearing today!
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.