3 Types of Hearing Loss and What You Can Do About Them

Have you ever taken a moment and just listened to the noises around you? The sounds of nature, birds chirping, a loved one’s laughter, your favorite song? Now, imagine someone who can’t hear any of what I just listed. Sadly, hearing loss is all too common, with about 1 in 3 older adults suffering from this condition. The good news is that it can often be prevented, managed, or improved!

What Is Hearing Loss?

A person who can not hear and someone with hearing thresholds of 20 dB or better in both ears has hearing loss. Hearing loss can be mild, moderate, severe, or profound, affecting one or both ears, which may result in difficulty understanding speech and sounds.

The three most common types of hearing loss include:

• Sensorineural
• Conductive
• Mixed

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

One of the most common types of hearing loss, this occurs when the inner ear or hearing nerve gets injured, mostly due to damage to the hair in the cochlea. Unfortunately, sensorineural hearing loss is irreversible.

Causes

• Aging
• Loud noise exposure
• Injury
• Disease
• Certain drugs
• Ménière’s disease
• Traumatic brain injury

Treatment options

• Cannot be medically or surgically treated
• Hearing aids have proven beneficial for this type of hearing loss.

Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

This type of hearing loss occurs suddenly or develops over a few days. In this type, hearing loss of frequency 32 dB or greater occurs within 72 hours. The damage occurs in the inner ear or auditory nerve.

Causes

• Idiopathic (unknown)
• Infection
• Injury
• Certain drugs 
• Exposure to loud noises

Treatment

Recovery is possible in some conditions that occur due to certain infections like vestibular schwannoma, mumps, and secondary syphilis.

In all other cases, treatments do not restore hearing to pre-onset levels.

Conductive Hearing Loss

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, your ear is made up of three parts: the outer, inner, and middle ear. With conductive hearing loss, sound waves cannot reach the inner ear due to the blockages. It may be difficult to hear soft sounds, and loud sounds might be muffled.

Causes

• Earwax or a foreign object
• Fluid
• Infection 
• Bone defect
• Injury

Treatment

Medical or surgical interventions can reverse the defect.                 

Mixed Hearing Loss

In some cases, a person is affected by both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss. This is called mixed hearing loss. Sadly, this combination of both types makes hearing loss worse.

Treatment

• Hearing aids
• Middle ear surgery 
• Cochlear implants

Hearing Loss in Adults (Presbycusis)

After turning 50, some adults can experience degenerative hearing loss due to ear changes or auditory nerve damage. The medical term for age-related hearing loss is presbycusis. This type of hearing loss can make it difficult for a person to hear what others are saying.

Causes

• Ototoxic drugs
• Noise exposure
• Inherited
• Smoking
• Diseases

Treatment

Hearing aids.

Other Causes and Risk Factors of Hearing Loss

1. Alcohol Use – Excessive alcohol consumption can play a role in hearing loss
2. Family History – Hearing loss can occur due to genetic factors 
3. Hormones – Progestin (a synthetic form of progesterone) can act as a risk factor.
4. Illicit Drug Use – Drugs like ecstasy are linked to hearing damage.
5. Male Gender – Men are more prone to hearing loss as compared to women.
6. Medical Conditions – Certain conditions, like diabetes, renal disease, atherosclerosis, immunosuppression, and head trauma, can act as a risk factor
7. Ototoxic Drug Use – Certain medicines, including NSAIDs, aminoglycosides, chemotherapy drugs, diuretics, and antibiotics like gentamicin and neomycin, are ototoxic and can affect hearing in long-term use.
8. Noise Exposure – Loud noise exposure can cause hearing loss.
9. Tobacco Use – Smoking has a minor yet measurable impact on hearing loss.

Diagnosis and Testing

Accurate diagnosis of hearing loss is essential to figure out the right approach to treatment and management. Early detection of hearing impairment through accurate testing can improve results and prevent further complications. The following diagnostic tests are used to diagnose hearing loss.

Pure tone audiometry

This test measures hearing sensitivity at different frequencies. The test almost takes 20 minutes to complete and is performed with the help of headphones. 

Tympanometry and stapedial reflexes (immittance testing)

This test assesses middle ear function by measuring pressure changes with the help of a soft ear plug.

Impact of Hearing Loss on Social Life

Hearing loss not only makes it harder to hear. It can also significantly affect verbal communication and negatively affect your social life by causing loneliness, isolation, dependence, and frustration.

What Can You Do About Hearing Loss?

Preventive Measures

• Limit Noise Exposure – Avoid exposure to loud noises.
• Use Hearing Protection – Use earmuffs or earplugs in noisy places.
• Follow Workplace Safety Standards – OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) requires hearing conservation programs if noise levels exceed 85 dB.
• Monitor Hearing Regularly – If you are continuously exposed to loud noise, regular ear health check-ups are recommended.
• Control Noise at Work – Adopt strategies to reduce continuous noise exposure
• Be Cautious with Ototoxic Drugs – Avoid prolonged use of ototoxic drugs.
• Avoid Noise During Drug Use – Loud noises can worsen drug-related hearing damage.
• Stay Educated – Follow hearing loss safety guidelines!

Communication Strategies

If you or a loved one has hearing loss, here are some communication strategies to improve daily interactions:

• Face the person when you’re speaking so that the other person can read your lips and understand facial expressions.
• Speak clearly at a moderate speed and don’t shout!
• Avoid background noise during conversations.
• Use written communication rather than verbal communication for important details.
• Be patient, as hearing loss can be frustrating for both the speaker and listener.

Takeaway

Hearing impairment is a common issue, but with proper insights and planning, you can face it! Recognizing risk factors is vital for early recognition and treatment. Of course, taking preventative measures can also help you maintain hearing wellness.

Remember to:

• Reduce exposure to loud noises.
• Use protective devices, such as earplugs,
• Have regular hearing evaluations.
• Adhere to workplace safety regulations.
• Be mindful of noise pollution.

While sensorineural hearing loss is commonly permanent, devices such as hearing aids and cochlear implants offer practical solutions for improving auditory experience. On the other hand, conductive hearing loss can often be addressed with medical treatments or surgical procedures. Regardless of the type of hearing loss you have, you can still maintain your quality of life and enjoy your retirement.

If you or someone close to you is dealing with hearing issues, contact an audiologist sooner rather than later.

For more great articles like this one, visit our Health & Wellness Blog!

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