Explaining Hearing Loss

There are a variety of causes that can lead to hearing loss. Depending on the part of the ear that is affected, we distinguish between three types of hearing loss: conductive hearing loss, neural hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss.

Conductive Hearing Loss

Any problem in the outer or middle ear that prevents the ear from conducting sound properly is known as a conductive hearing loss.

Conductive hearing losses are usually mild or moderate in nature, causing hearing losses of up to 60 or 70 decibels.

In some cases, conductive hearing losses can be temporary. In many cases, medication or surgery can help, depending on the specific cause of the problem.

Conductive hearing loss can usually be helped with hearing aids.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

A problem in the cochlea can cause sensorineural hearing loss.

Sensorineural hearing loss results from missing or damaged sensory cells (hair cells) in the cochlea and is usually permanent.

Also known as "nerve deafness", sensorineural hearing loss can be mild, moderate, severe or profound.

Surgical procedures cannot cure sensorineural hearing loss. Medication may be helpful in some cases.

Mild to severe sensorineural hearing loss can usually be helped
with hearing aids.

Severe or profound hearing loss can usually be helped with cochlear implants

Neural Hearing Loss

A problem that results in the absence of or damage to the auditory nerve can cause a neural hearing loss.

Neural hearing loss is a profound hearing loss and is permanent.

Hearing aids and cochlear implants cannot help, because the auditory nerve is not able to pass on enough sound information to the brain.

An auditory brainstem implant (ABI) may help in some cases.