Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can affect anyone and at any point during a person’s life. It affects different people to varying degrees and for different reasons and can be triggered by any number of environmental and biological factors. The only way to find out for sure is to have your hearing evaluated by an audiologist.
Common Types of Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss results from damage to the inner ear (cochlea) or the nerve pathways that transmit sound vibrations to the brain. Sensorineural loss cannot be reversed and is not treatable through surgery or medication, but it can be significantly improved through the use of hearing aids.
Conductive hearing loss results from sound waves being conducted through the outer and/or middle ear inefficiently. Sound waves are blocked or muffled before they can reach the inner ear, which is still functioning properly. Conductive hearing loss is usually treated medically.
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss results from exposure to loud noises over a long period of time. This is one of the most common types of hearing loss, and, fortunately, it is also the most preventable. Onset is gradual, painless, and frequently undetected until a significant reduction in hearing has occurred.
Mixed hearing loss is the combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, which can involve damage in the outer, middle, and inner ear simultaneously.
If you suspect you or a loved one has a hearing loss, Contact us for a hearing evaluation or take our simple 5 Minute Hearing Quiz.