Understanding the Diagnosis of Hearing Loss
A hearing loss diagnosis will generally show the level of loss to the ear as well as the potential causes and characterizations of the loss.
By Ability Central
14 December, 2022
Nearly 50 million people in the USA alone have hearing loss. Most of the cases can be grouped into three classifications. The causes vary from case to case, and may also on occasion be unique to an individual. Here is what you need to know if you are experiencing hearing loss.
Hearing loss is generally grouped into
- sensorineural (inner ear)
- conductive
- or a mix of both.
Sensorineural hearing loss generally happens due to loud noise, loud work environments, and can happen during the aging process. The problem in these cases is damage to the tiny hair cells inside of the hearing organ – the cochlea. The hair cells move and flex when sound comes into the ear. This sends a signal to the brain, causing you to hear. When these cells don’t work right, you will experience hearing loss. A loud concert, fireworks, sustained noise exposure over time, and simple aging can lead to this kind of hearing loss. Hearing losses can influence just one ear or both.
Sensorineural hearing loss is commonly treated with hearing aids. Hearing doctors can help you discern the level of loss and the best approach for your specific needs. If you experience sudden hearing loss, however, you may have a virus. This can be treated if it is addressed quickly.
The second classification of hearing loss is conductive, or mechanical. This is caused when the proper transmission of sound is being prevented. With conductive hearing loss, nothing is wrong with your auditory nerve, or your cochlea. However, sound isn’t making it from your outer ear to your inner ear. This can be caused simply by earwax, or it could be more serious with a hole in the ear drum or other causes.
The third kind of hearing loss can be a mix of sensorineural and conductive. In these cases, you may have experienced excessive noise over time plus a blockage or injury to your ears.
When you have a hearing test, it will generally show you the degree of loss as a number. For instance, a 20 percent loss may be considered mild and an 80 percent loss would be described as profound. The degrees are:
- Mild Hearing Loss – may hear speech sounds but soft sounds are difficult to hear
- Moderate Hearing Loss – may not hear speech when someone is speaking at a normal level
- Severe Hearing Loss – Will hear no speech of a person speaking normally, but will hear some loud sounds
- Profound hearing Loss – Will not hear any speech and only very loud sounds
A hearing test will diagnose the classification of hearing loss, and this will help your doctor come up with recommendations. The hearing example includes an otoscopic inspection; pure tones; and immittance screening to test the tympanic membrane and how your ear inner workings respond to stimuli. Ability Central has resources to help you learn more about the symptoms of hearing loss. For information about hearing aids, and other resources and assistance, check out our hearing loss resources, including: