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Conductive Hearing Loss (CHL)

Conductive hearing losses occur when the "outer" or "middle" ear fail to work properly. Sounds become "blocked" and are not carried all the way to the inner ear.

There are various causes for conductive hearing loss, including otitis media and otosclerosis. Ear wax in the ear canal, fluid in the middle ear, abnormal bone growth, or a middle ear infection can also cause this loss. Conductive hearing losses are often treatable with either medicine or surgery.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL)

Sensorineural hearing losses occur when the "inner" ear or the hearing nerve itself becomes damaged. About 90% of all people with hearing impairments are in this category making it the most common type of hearing impairment. Sensorineural hearing loss is often referred to as "nerve deafness". Nerve deafness is not a good description because the damage usually occurs within the inner ear and not the hearing nerve.

The most common causes of sensorineural hearing loss are aging and exposure to loud noises. Sensorineural hearing loss may also be caused by birth defects, head injury, tumors, illness, certain prescription drugs, poor blood circulation, high blood pressure, or stroke. The degree of hearing loss can vary from person to person.

This type of hearing loss is usually not medically or surgically treatable, however, most people with this hearing loss find wearing hearing aids to be of significant benefit.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)

Any sounds over 90dB are sufficiently loud to damage the sensitive inner ear structures and produce irreversible hearing loss. This can occur at any age and is often characterized by a high frequency hearing loss that causes difficulty in understanding speech and accompanied by the troublesome symptom of Tinnitus (head noise). Because the onset of NIHL is so gradual hearing health professionals strongly recommend an annual hearing test for individuals whose lifestyle or occupation constantly exposes them to excessive sound.

Mixed Hearing Loss
Mixed hearing losses are simply combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.

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