Types of Hearing Loss
June 24, 2009
Human ear is a very sensitive and delicate organ of the human body. It helps in detecting and analyzing sound which keeps us alert and balanced. The human ear has three main parts, namely, outer part, middle part and inner part. Each part plays a significant role in proper functioning of the ear.
Have you ever wondered how we are able to hear sound or voice through our ears? The reason is because the sound waves are converted into electrical signals which only the brain can understand. And these electrical signals are processed by the brain and accordingly trigger the cells to act on them. All this process is carried out by the three essential parts of the ear that we discussed earlier.
When there is sudden or gradual decrease in the hearing ability of a person, he is said to suffer from hearing loss. Hearing loss can be a big threat to personal safety and might make a person very timid and may lead to depression and social isolation. Mainly the types of hearing loss are associated with the malfunction of either part of the ear.
1. Sensorineural hearing loss: This is the most common type of hearing loss in which a person is not able to hear any sound with his ears. This is due to damage to either the inner ear structures or the hearing nerve. Mostly this type of hearing loss is not treatable as the sensory cells of the ear have died but the patient can benefit by using the hearing aids.
2. Conductive hearing loss: This disorder occurs due to some damage to either the middle or the outer part of the ear. In conductive hearing loss, the sound waves do not reach the inner part of the ear and hence the patient is unable to hear clearly. This might occur due to blocked ear canal or an injury and can be treated completely.
3. Mixed hearing loss: This is a mix of both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss. Some patients might experience this type of hearing loss due to damage to all of the ear parts.
The causes for hearing loss can be many and best detected by a medical professional. Therefore one should not try to treat hearing loss themselves as it may prove fatal.
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