Understanding the Types of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss affects people of all ages and can be caused by many different factors. Hearing loss can impact your life in so many ways. You may feel uncomfortable trying to carry on telephone conversations or frustrated because you can’t enjoy your favorite movies or shows. You may feel isolated or depressed. Hearing loss may make you feel as if you’re missing out on life.
As with any medical condition, it’s best to know what you “have” before deciding what to do about it. This article will explain the most common types of hearing loss and the different degrees of hearing loss. A consultation with a hearing professional can help determine the type, cause and degree of your hearing loss.
The three basic categories of hearing loss are sensorineural hearing loss, conductive hearing loss and mixed hearing loss.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type of hearing loss, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).1 It happens when there is damage to the inner ear or hearing nerve (that connects to the brain). This type of hearing loss occurs when the inner ear or the actual hearing nerve itself becomes damaged. Sensorineural loss is the most common type of hearing loss.
It can be a result of aging, exposure to loud noise, injury, disease, certain drugs or an inherited condition. Noise-induced hearing loss is considered sensorineural. Sensorineural hearing loss impacts the pathways from your inner ear to your brain.
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (also called rapid sensorineural hearing loss) is when you experience a loss of hearing instantly or quickly over a few days. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss may occur very suddenly or over the course of a few days. It is imperative to see an otologist (a doctor specializing in diseases of the ear) immediately.
Treatment for sensorineural hearing loss depends on the cause-usually, medicine or surgery cannot fix sensorineural hearing loss.
Conductive Hearing Loss
This type of hearing loss occurs in the outer or middle ear where sound waves are not able to carry all the way through to the inner ear. Conductive hearing loss is typically the result of obstructions in the outer or middle ear - perhaps due to fluid, tumors, earwax or even ear formation. This obstruction prevents sound from getting to the inner ear.
Unlike sensorineural hearing loss, conductive hearing loss is usually treated with medicine or surgery. In some people, conductive hearing loss may be reversed through medical or surgical intervention.
Mixed Hearing Loss
Sometimes people can have a combination of both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss.4
Degrees of Hearing Loss
Not all hearing loss is the same. It can vary from person to person based on the type of hearing loss as well as the degree. A “type” of hearing loss refers to what part of your hearing is damaged. “Understanding the type and extent of your hearing loss allows you to explore the most effective treatment options,” said Stephanie Jaffe, AuD, a doctor of audiology at HearUSA in Augusta, Georgia.
Here's a breakdown of the degrees of hearing loss:
- Mild (26-40 dB): Someone with mild hearing loss may hear some sounds, but softer speech will likely be difficult to hear.
- Moderate (41-55 dB): Someone with moderate hearing loss may hear almost nothing when a person is speaking at a normal volume.
- Moderately severe (56-70 dB): Someone with moderately severe hearing loss will hear no speech when a person speaks at a normal volume but will still hear loud sounds.
- Severe (71-90 dB): Someone with severe hearing loss will hear no speech when a person speaks at a normal volume and only hears some loud sounds.
- Profound (90 dB or higher): Someone with profound hearing loss won’t hear any loud speech and only very loud sounds.
Hearing Tests and Treatment Options
Hearing testing is critical for discovering exactly what type of hearing loss you have, and will help determine the hearing care solution that is right for you. Most adults received their last hearing test when they were in grade school. It is a good idea to have your hearing checked when you are an adult at least once during your annual physical.
If you think you have hearing loss, talk to a healthcare provider or audiologist. They’ll determine the best way to improve your hearing.
To get a hearing test, contact a local hearing clinic covered by your insurance. Medicare covers hearing exams when medically necessary. Medicare won’t cover hearing exams solely for the purpose of getting hearing aids.
After the test, the hearing professional will share your audiogram (results of your hearing test) with you.7 Based on your results, the specialist will explain your treatment options, which could be hearing aids or a procedure like one to remove blocked earwax. People with moderate-to-severe hearing loss require hearing aids, but people with mild hearing loss can also benefit from aids.
There are many kinds of over-the-counter hearing aids on the market, ranging from inexpensive hand-held amplifiers to self-fit devices that can be calibrated to your amplification needs with a smartphone app. OTC hearing aids can treat mild to moderate hearing loss. If you’ve never had a hearing test before, experts recommend you get an in-person test with a hearing professional before purchasing OTC hearing aids.
References:
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Sensorineural Hearing Loss.
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Conductive Hearing Loss.
- Cleveland Clinic. Bone-Anchored Hearing Aid. Nov. 21, 2023.
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Mixed Hearing Loss.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Types of Hearing Loss. May 15, 2024.
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Loud Noise Dangers.
- Cleveland Clinic. Hearing Test (Audiometry). May 22, 2024.
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Adult Hearing Screening.
- Johns Hopkins Medicine. Baseline Hearing Test.