Hearing loss may be conductive (often temporary and can be
treated); sensorineural (permanent and
not able to be to be treated by medical intervention) or a
combination of both (mixed hearing
loss).
Our expert hearing aid audiologists are trained to identify the
possible causes and refer you to an appropriate medical specialist,
usually your doctor, if the cause of your hearing loss can be
treated by medicine or surgery.
Conductive
hearing loss
Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound cannot reach the inner
ear. Causes include:
- A build-up of earwax
- A build-up of fluid in the middle ear
- Middle ear infection
- Perforated eardrum
- A foreign body
- Abnormal bone growth in the middle ear (otosclerosis)
These conditions may affect one or both ears and can often be
cured by medicine or surgery. However, a person with conductive
hearing loss may also benefit from using hearing aids.
Sensorineural hearing
loss
This is the most common form of hearing loss and occurs when the
minute hair cells in the inner ear are damaged. It can be caused by
a wide range of conditions but most commonly by the ageing process
which accounts for around 90% of this type of hearing loss.
Sensorineural hearing loss is a natural part of ageing, but
other factors may include:
- Traumatic exposure to noise
- Head injury
- Viral infections of the inner ear and auditory nerve
- Some drug treatments
- Family history
The condition is permanent and usually affects both ears but
using correctly prescribed hearing aids can offer major
benefits.
Mixed hearing
loss
Mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive and
sensorineural hearing loss and affects the outer, middle and inner
ears.
