Have you ever purchased one of those “one size fits all” t-shirts only to be dismayed (and shocked) when the shirt does not, in fact, fit as advertised? That’s truly annoying. There aren’t actually very many “one size fits all” with anything in the real world. 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’s the cause of hearing loss? And what is the most prevalent type of hearing loss? Well, that’s exactly what we intend to find out.
Hearing loss comes in different forms
Because hearing is such an intricate cognitive and physical operation, no two people’s hearing loss will be precisely the same. Perhaps you hear just fine at the office, but not in a crowded restaurant. Or, maybe specific frequencies of sound get lost. Your hearing loss can take a variety of shapes.
How your hearing loss presents, in part, could 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 does hearing work?
Before you can completely 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 work, how your ear is typically supposed to work. Here’s how it breaks down:
- Outer ear: This is the visible part of the ear. It’s where you’re initially exposed to a “sound”. The shape of your ear helps direct those sounds into your middle ear (where they are processed further).
- Middle ear: The eardrum and several tiny bones are what your middle ear is composed of (Yes, there are some tiny little bones in there).
- Inner ear: Your stereocilia are found hear. These fragile hairs detect vibrations and start translating those vibrations into electrical signals. Your cochlea plays a part in this also. Our brain then receives this electrical energy.
- Auditory nerve: This nerve sends these electrical signals to the brain.
- Auditory system: All of the parts listed above, from your brain to your outer ear, are elements of your “auditory system”. The complete hearing process depends on all of these components working in unison with one another. Typically, in other words, the whole system will be affected if any one part has problems.
Hearing loss varieties
There are numerous forms of hearing loss because there are numerous parts of the ear. The underlying cause of your hearing loss will determine which type of hearing loss you experience.
Here are some of the most common causes:
- Conductive hearing loss: This type of hearing loss happens because there’s a blockage somewhere in the auditory system, often in the outer or middle ear. Usually, fluid or inflammation is the reason for this blockage (when you have an ear infection, for instance, this typically occurs). A growth in the ear can sometimes cause conductive hearing loss. Once the obstruction is removed, hearing will normally go back to normal.
- Sensorineural hearing loss: When the tiny hairs that detect sound, called stereocilia, are damaged by loud sound they are usually destroyed. Normally, this is a chronic, progressive and permanent type of hearing loss. Typically, individuals are encouraged to wear ear protection to avoid this type of hearing loss. Even though sensorineural hearing loss is irreversible, it can be successfully treated with hearing aids.
- Mixed hearing loss: It occasionally happens that someone will experience both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss simultaneously. Because the hearing loss is coming from several different places, this can sometimes be difficult to manage.
- Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder: ANSD is a rather rare condition. When sound isn’t effectively transmitted from your ear to your brain, this type of hearing loss occurs. A device known as a cochlear implant is usually used to treat this type of hearing loss.
The desired results are the same even though the treatment option will vary for each form of hearing loss: to improve or preserve your ability to hear.
Variations on hearing loss kinds
And there’s more. Any of these normal types of hearing loss can be categorized further (and with more specificity). For example, hearing loss can also be classified as:
- Congenital hearing loss: If you’re born with hearing loss it’s known as “congenital”.
- High frequency vs. low frequency: Your hearing loss can be classified as one or the other depending on what frequency range is getting lost.
- Unilateral or bilateral hearing loss: This means you’re either experiencing hearing loss in just one ear (unilateral) or both ears (bilateral).
- Progressive or sudden: You have “progressive” hearing loss if it slowly gets worse over time. If your hearing loss occurs all at once, it’s known as “sudden”.
- Fluctuating or stable: Fluctuating hearing loss refers to hearing loss that appears and disappears. Stable hearing loss stays at around the same level.
- Symmetrical or asymmetrical: If your hearing loss is the same in both ears it’s symmetrical and if it’s not the same in both ears it’s asymmetrical.
- Pre-lingual or post-lingual: If your hearing loss developed before you learned to speak, it’s called pre-lingual. Hearing loss is post-lingual when it develops after you learned to speak. This can have implications for treatment and adaptation.
- Acquired hearing loss: Hearing loss that develops due to outside causes (such as damage).
If that seems like a lot, it’s because it is. But your hearing loss will be more successfully managed when we’re able to use these categories.
A hearing test is in order
So how can you tell what type, and which sub-type, of hearing loss you’re experiencing? Unfortunately, hearing loss isn’t really something you can accurately diagnose by yourself. It will be difficult for you to determine, for example, whether your cochlea is working correctly.
But you can get a hearing test to find out precisely what’s happening. Your loss of hearing is sort of like a “check engine” light. We can connect you to a wide range of machines, and help establish what type of hearing loss you have.
So contact us today and make 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/