Conductive Hearing Loss
- Sound energy is blocked from reaching the inner ear normally.
- Possible causes include: fluid behind eardrum, earwax build-up, perforated eardrum, fixation of middle ear bones, etc.
- In many cases, it may be medically or surgically treatable.
- Typically, these individuals obtain significant benefit from hearing aids; however, surgical correction is frequently an option if medically appropriate.
- May receive significant benefit from osseointergrated implanted hearing aids if medical treatment or air conduction hearing aids are not appropriate.
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Sensorineural Hearing Loss
- Inner ear (cochlea) and/or hearing nerve damaged so sound is not processed normally.
- Possible causes include: noise, medications, disease, aging etc. In some cases (less than 10%), it is medically or surgically treatable.
- These individuals often obtain significant benefit from hearing aids or other amplifying devices.
- Cochlear implants often provide significant hearing to children and adults who do not receive benefit from hearing aids.
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Mixed Hearing Loss
- There is both a conductive and a sensorineural part to the hearing loss.
- A portion of the loss may be medically or surgically treatable.
- Typically, these individuals will obtain significant benefit from hearing aids or other amplifying devices.
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