Why can't you hear well

The kind of hearing loss that someone has depends on the part of the ear that is not working correctly.

A problem in the outer ear or middle ear

A hearing loss that originates in the outer or middle ear is called a conductive hearing loss. To help you remember this, think of a musical conductor who must guide everyone to play their instruments. Just like this person, certain parts of the ear must guide sound waves to go to the right place.

When you have a conductive hearing loss, sound cannot pass properly through somewhere in the ear canal, ear drum, or middle ear.

Too much fluid caused by a very serious ear infection can cause pressure to build up behind the ear drum. This pressure stretches the ear drum and pulls on it so much, it can even cause it to tear.

A child with a conductive hearing loss will not be able to hear soft sounds clearly. The ear doctor calls this a "mild to moderate" hearing loss.

A problem in the inner ear

A hearing loss that comes from problems in the inner ear is called sensorineural hearing loss.

Sensorineural hearing loss can be caused by broken or missing hair cells in the cochlea. Doctors do not yet know how to repair broken hair cells and missing hair cells do not grow back like hair on the head does. This is why a sensorineural hearing loss is usually permanent.

If there are only a few hairs missing or broken, the child will probably have a mild to moderate hearing loss.

Hearing aids are small electronic devices that amplify sound. To amplify means to make louder. Hearing aids come in many shapes and colours.

If too many hairs are damaged or missing, a child may hear almost nothing. The child has a severe to profound hearing loss. Hearing aids do not help any more, but often a cochlear implant does. A cochlear implant takes over the job of the broken or missing hair cells.