Types of Hearing Loss
Last updated November 2024
There are two primary types of hearing loss: sensorineural loss and conductive loss.
Ninety-five percent of all hearing-aid wearers have sensorineural loss, which usually occurs when the tiny hair cells that line the inner ear become damaged and can no longer transmit signals accurately to the auditory pathway and the brain. Aging and noise exposure are the most common causes.
In rare cases, hearing loss results from damage to the auditory nerve. For example, benign tumors can compress the nerve. If detected early, these conditions are often treatable.
Conductive hearing loss occurs when something interferes with sound vibrations as they pass through the outer and middle ear. One common cause: blockage of wax buildup, which can be removed via a drugstore earwax softener or by a physician or audiologist.
Fluid in the middle ear, usually caused by inflammation, can also result in conductive hearing loss, most commonly in children. This usually can be treated medically.
A punctured eardrum or problems with the functioning of the small bones in the middle ear can also cause conductive hearing loss. These issues are often partially or completely treatable with surgery, but hearing aids may be used if hearing loss remains afterwards.
A combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, called “mixed loss,” is also possible.
