Have you ever bought one of those “one size fits all” t-shirts only to be dismayed (and shocked) when the shirt doesn’t, in fact, fit as advertised? It’s sort of a bummer, isn’t it? There aren’t really very many “one size fits all” with anything in the real world. That’s true with t-shirts and it’s also relevant with medical conditions, such as hearing loss. There can be a wide variety of reasons why it occurs.
So what’s the cause of hearing loss? And what’s the most common type of hearing loss? Well, that’s precisely what we intend to find out.
Hearing loss comes in different kinds
Everybody’s hearing loss situation will be as unique as they are. Perhaps you hear just fine at the office, but not in a crowded restaurant. 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 presents, in part, may be determined by what causes your symptoms to begin with. Because your ear is a fairly complex little organ, there are any number of things that can go wrong.
How your hearing works
Before you can thoroughly understand how hearing loss works, or what level of hearing loss calls for a hearing aid, it’s practical to think a bit about how things are supposed to work, how your ear is generally supposed to work. Check out this breakdown:
- Outer ear: This is the visible portion of the ear. It’s the initial sound receiver. Sounds are effectively funneled into your middle ear for further processing by the shape of your outer ear.
- Middle ear: The eardrum and several 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. Vibration is detected by these delicate hairs which are then transformed into electrical signals. Your cochlea helps here, also. These electrical signals are then transmitted to your brain.
- Auditory nerve: This nerve is inside of your ear, and it’s responsible for channeling and directing this electrical energy to your brain.
- Auditory system: From your brain to your outer ear, the “auditory system” includes all of the elements discussed above. It’s essential to understand that all of these parts are constantly working together and in concert with each other. Usually, in other words, the whole system will be impacted if any one part has issues.
Varieties of hearing loss
There are numerous types of hearing loss because there are numerous parts of the ear. Which form you experience will depend on the underlying cause.
Here are some of the most common causes:
- Conductive hearing loss: When there’s a blockage somewhere in the auditory system, often the middle or outer ear, this type of hearing loss occurs. Usually, fluid or inflammation is the reason for this blockage (when you have an ear infection, for instance, this usually happens). A growth in the ear can sometimes cause conductive hearing loss. Typically, with conductive hearing loss, your hearing will return to normal as soon as the obstruction has been removed.
- Sensorineural hearing loss: When the fragile hairs that pick up sound, called stereocilia, are damaged by loud noise they are usually destroyed. This type of hearing loss is usually chronic, progressive, and irreversible. Usually, individuals are encouraged to wear hearing protection to avoid this kind of hearing loss. Even though sensorineural hearing loss is permanent, it can be effectively treated with hearing aids.
- Mixed hearing loss: It sometimes happens that somebody will experience both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss at the same time. This can often be hard to treat because the hearing loss is coming from different places.
- Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder: It’s relatively rare for someone to develop ANSD. When sound is not effectively transmitted from your ear to your brain, this type of hearing loss happens. ANSD can normally be treated with a device known as a cochlear implant.
Each type of hearing loss calls for a different treatment approach, but the desired results are usually the same: improving your hearing ability.
Hearing loss kinds have variations
And that isn’t all! Any of these normal kinds of hearing loss can be categorized further (and more specifically). For instance, hearing loss can also be classified as:
- Symmetrical or asymmetrical: This indicates whether your hearing loss is the same in both ears or unequal in both ears.
- Congenital hearing loss: Hearing loss you were born with.
- Acquired hearing loss: If you experience hearing loss due to outside causes, like damage, it’s known as “acquired”.
- Unilateral or bilateral hearing loss: This means you’re either experiencing hearing loss in just one ear (unilateral) or both ears (bilateral).
- Fluctuating or stable: If your hearing loss has a tendency to appear and disappear, it might be referred to as fluctuating. Stable hearing loss stays at relatively the same level.
- Pre-lingual or post-lingual: If your hearing loss developed before you learned to speak, it’s known as pre-lingual. If your hearing loss developed after you learned to speak, it’s known as post-lingual. This will impact the way hearing loss is managed.
- Progressive or sudden: You have “progressive” hearing loss if it slowly worsens over time. Hearing loss that erupts or presents instantly is known as “sudden”.
- High frequency vs. low frequency: You might have more difficulty hearing high or low-frequency sounds. Your hearing loss can then be categorized as one or the other.
If that seems like a lot, it’s because it is. The point is that each categorization helps us more precisely and effectively manage your symptoms.
Time to get a hearing test
So how do you know what type, and what sub-type, of hearing loss you have? Self-diagnosis of hearing loss isn’t, regrettably, something that’s at all accurate. As an example, is your cochlea functioning properly, 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 connect you to a wide range of machines, and help determine what type of hearing loss you’re dealing with.
So give us a call today and schedule an appointment to find out what’s going on.
References
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/hearingloss/types.html
https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/types-of-hearing-loss/
