Have you ever seen a t-shirt promoted as “one size fits all” but when you went to put it on, you were disheartened to find that it didn’t fit at all? It’s sort of a bummer, right? The reality is that there’s pretty much nothing in the world that is truly a “one size fits all”. That’s not only true with clothing, it’s also true with medical conditions such as hearing loss. There can be numerous reasons why it happens.
So what are the most prevalent kinds of hearing loss and what are their causes? Let’s find out!
There are different types of hearing loss
Because hearing is such a complex cognitive and physical process, no two people’s hearing loss will be exactly the same. Perhaps when you’re in a crowded restaurant you can’t hear that well, but when you’re at work, you hear just fine. Or, maybe specific frequencies of sound get lost. There are a wide variety of forms that your hearing loss can take.
How your hearing loss shows up, in part, might be determined by what causes your symptoms to begin with. Because your ear is a rather complex little organ, there are lots of things that can go wrong.
How your hearing works
Before you can totally understand how hearing loss works, or what level of hearing loss requires a hearing aid, it’s practical to consider how things are supposed to function, how your ear is typically supposed to work. Check out this breakdown:
- Outer ear: This is the visible part of the ear. It’s the initial sound receiver. The shape of your ear helps direct those sounds into your middle ear (where they are processed further).
- Middle ear: The eardrum and some tiny bones are what your middle ear is composed of (yes, you have bones in your ear, but they are admittedly very, very tiny).
- Inner ear: Your stereocilia are found hear. These delicate hairs detect vibrations and start converting those vibrations into electrical signals. Your cochlea helps here, too. These electrical signals are then transmitted to your brain.
- Auditory nerve: This nerve is inside of your ear, and it’s responsible for transmitting and sending this electrical energy to your brain.
- Auditory system: From your brain to your outer ear, the “auditory system” encompasses all of the elements discussed above. The total hearing process depends on all of these parts working in unison with each other. Typically, in other words, the entire system will be affected if any one part has issues.
Varieties of hearing loss
There are numerous forms of hearing loss because there are multiple parts of the ear. Which type you experience will depend on the underlying cause.
Here are some of the most prevalent causes:
- Conductive hearing loss: This form of hearing loss happens because there’s a blockage somewhere in the auditory system, often in the middle or outer ear. Typically, this blockage is due to fluid or inflammation (this usually happens, for instance, when you have an ear infection). Sometimes, conductive hearing loss can be the result of a growth in the ear canal. Usually, with conductive hearing loss, your hearing will return to normal as soon as the obstruction has been removed.
- Sensorineural hearing loss: When your ears are damaged by loud sound, the delicate hair cells which pick up sound, called stereocilia, are destroyed. This type of hearing loss is usually chronic, progressive, and irreversible. Typically, individuals are encouraged to wear hearing protection to avoid this kind of hearing loss. If you have sensorineural hearing loss, it can still be treated by devices such as hearing aids.
- Mixed hearing loss: It’s also possible to experience a combination of sensorineural hearing loss and conductive hearing loss. Because the hearing loss is coming from several different places, this can sometimes be challenging to manage.
- Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder: It’s relatively rare for somebody to develop ANSD. It happens when the cochlea doesn’t effectively transmit sounds from your ear to your brain. ANSD can usually be managed with a device known as a cochlear implant.
Each form of hearing loss calls for a different treatment approach, but the desired results are usually the same: to improve or preserve your ability to hear.
Variations on hearing loss types
And that’s not all! Any of these common types of hearing loss can be categorized further (and with more specificity). Here are some examples:
- Progressive or sudden: Hearing loss that slowly worsens over time is called “progressive”. If your hearing loss occurs all at once, it’s known as “sudden”.
- High frequency vs. low frequency: You might experience more difficulty hearing high or low-frequency sounds. Your hearing loss can then be categorized as one or the other.
- Congenital hearing loss: Hearing loss you were born with.
- Fluctuating or stable: Fluctuating hearing loss refers to hearing loss that comes and goes. Stable hearing loss remains at around the same level.
- Symmetrical or asymmetrical: This tells you whether your hearing loss is the same in both ears or unequal in both ears.
- Acquired hearing loss: Hearing loss that develops due to outside forces (like damage).
- Pre-lingual or post-lingual: If your hearing loss developed before you learned to talk, it’s known as pre-lingual. Hearing loss is post-lingual when it develops after you learned to talk. This will affect the way hearing loss is addressed.
- Unilateral or bilateral hearing loss: It’s possible to develop hearing loss in one ear (unilateral), or in both (bilateral).
That might seem like a lot, and it is. But your hearing loss will be more successfully treated when we’re able to use these classifications.
A hearing exam is in order
So how can you tell which of these classifications applies to your hearing loss scenario? Unfortunately, hearing loss isn’t really something you can self-diagnose with much accuracy. For instance, is your cochlea working correctly, how would you know?
But that’s what hearing examinations are for! Your loss of hearing is sort of like a “check engine” light. We can hook you up to a wide variety of machines, and help identify what type of hearing loss you have.
So the best way to figure out what’s happening is to schedule an appointment with us as soon as you can!
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References
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/hearingloss/types.html
https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/types-of-hearing-loss/