Types of Hearing Loss

There are four main types of hearing loss:

• Conductive: Hearing loss caused by a problem in the outer ear or middle ear. Conductive losses usually affect low frequencies. These losses are not usually severe. Many times, they can be treated medically or surgically.
• Sensorineural: Hearing loss caused by a problem in the inner ear or auditory nerve. A sensorineural loss often affects a person's ability to hear some frequencies more than others. Many patients with this type of loss say they hear but don't always understand speech as sounds may seem distorted. Sensorineural losses can range from mild to profound.
• Mixed: A combination of conductive and sensorineural losses.
• Central: Hearing loss caused by a problem along the pathway from the inner ear to the auditory region of the brain or in the brain itself.

You might need a hearing aid if:

• People say you're shouting when you talk to them.
• You need the TV or radio turned up louder than other people do.
• You often have to ask people to repeat what they say because you can't quite hear them, especially in groups or when there is background noise.
• You can't hear a noise if you're not facing the direction it's coming from.
• You seem to hear better out of one ear than the other.
• You have to strain to hear.
• You keep hearing a hissing or ringing background noise.
• You can't hear a dripping faucet or the high notes of a violin.
• You hear speech but don't understand what was said.

If you have any of these symptoms, contact one of our offices so you can be tested for hearing loss.