Hearing loss can be categorized into several types based on it’s underlying causes and the specific part of the auditory system that is affected

Types of hearing loss

Sensorineural Hearing Loss:

Sensorineural hearing loss results from damage to the inner ear ( cochlea ) or the auditory nerve. It’s often permanent and can be caused by various factors, including:

Conductive Hearing Loss:

Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound is obstructed from reaching the inner ear. This types of hearing loss typically involves issues in the outer or middle ear. Is often treatable through medical or surgical interventions.

Mixed Hearing Loss

Mixed hearing loss is a combination of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, involving problems in both the outer or middle ear and the inner ear or auditory nerve.

Degrees of hearing loss

Causes of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is caused by many factors, most frequently from natural aging or exposure to loud noise. The most common causes of hearing loss are:

  • Aging
  • Noise exposure
  • Head trauma 
  • Virus or disease
  • Genetics
  • Ototoxicity

Things that can cause sensorineural hearing loss are:

  • Aging
  • Injury
  • Excessive noise exposure
  • Viral infections
  • Shingles
  • Ototoxic drugs
  • Meningitis
  • Diabetes 
  • Stroke 
  • High fever or elevated temperature 
  • Meniere disease (a disorder of the inner ear that can affect hearing and balance)
  • Acoustic tumours 
  • Heredity 
  • Obesity
  • Smoking 
  • Hypertension

Things that can cause conductive hearing loss are:

  • Infections of the ear canal or middle ear resulting in fluid or pus build-up
  • Perforation or scarring of the eardrum
  • Wax build-up
  • Dislocation of the middle ear bones ( ossicles ) 
  • Foreign object in the ear canal
  • Otosclerosis ( an abnormal bone growth in the middle ear ) 
  • Abnormal growths or tumours

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