Understanding Hearing Disorders: Types, Causes, and Treatments
Hearing problems can affect people at any stage of life. Hearing loss affects people of all ages and can be caused by many different factors.
Types of Hearing Loss
The three basic categories of hearing loss are:
- Sensorineural hearing loss
- Conductive hearing loss
- Mixed hearing loss
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
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.
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.
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. 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.
Causes of Hearing Loss
People over age 50 may experience gradual hearing loss over the years due to age-related changes in the ear or auditory nerve. The medical term for age-related hearing loss is presbycusis.
Diagnosis and Testing
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.
Various tests are available to diagnose hearing loss:
- Physical exam: A health care provider looks in your ear for possible causes of your hearing loss, such as earwax or an infection.
- Screening tests: App-based hearing tests.
- Tuning fork tests: Tuning forks are two-pronged, metal instruments that make sounds when hit. Simple tests with tuning forks can help find hearing loss.
- Audiometer tests: A specialist in hearing loss, known as an audiologist, does these more-thorough tests. Sounds and words are directed through earphones to each ear.
Treatment Options
You can get help for hearing problems through various treatments:
- Removing earwax: Earwax blockage is a cause of hearing loss that can be fixed.
- Surgery: Some types of hearing loss can be treated with surgery.
- Hearing aids: If hearing loss is from damage to the inner ear, a hearing aid can be helpful. A hearing specialist, known as an audiologist, can talk about how hearing aids can help and what kinds there are.
- Cochlear implants: When a regular hearing aid isn't likely to help much, a cochlear implant might be an option. A cochlear implant isn't like a hearing aid that makes sound stronger and directs it into the ear canal.
If you are considering a hearing aid, you are bound to have questions. 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.
Dr. Hogan: "So there isn't one best hearing aid for older people versus younger people." Dr. Hogan: "This is a full-shell, in-the-ear hearing aid. One of the benefits of this device is wearers can answer and listen to a phone call as they have their whole life."
Strategies for Better Hearing
An audiologist like Dr. can provide guidance and support. Here are some general tips:
- Tell your friends and family about your hearing loss.
- Put yourself in a good position to hear.
- Turn off background noise.
- Ask others to speak up, but not too loud, and speak clearly.
- Get the other person's attention before speaking.
- Choose quiet settings.
- Consider using a listening aid. Hearing devices can help you hear better while lessening noises around you.
Preparing for an Appointment
If you think you have hearing loss, call your health care provider. Consider the following to prepare for your appointment:
- Write down your symptoms and how long you've had them. Is the hearing loss in one ear or both?
- Ask friends and family to help you make the list.
- Write down key medical information, especially related to ear problems. Include any repeated infections, injury to your ear or ear surgery you've had.
- Describe your work history.
- Take a family member or friend along.
- How would you describe your symptoms? Does either ear hurt? Do you often ask others to speak up or repeat themselves?
| Type of Hearing Loss | Location of Problem | Possible Causes | Potential Treatments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensorineural | Inner ear or auditory nerve | Aging, noise exposure, injury, disease, drugs, inherited conditions | Hearing aids, cochlear implants |
| Conductive | Outer or middle ear | Blockage, infection, structural issues | Medical intervention, surgery |
| Mixed | Combination of inner/outer or middle ear issues | Various factors affecting both conductive and sensorineural pathways | Combination of treatments based on specific issues |