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Different
types of hearing loss
It is important for you to know the types of hearing
loss you are having because this will help you in determining
the treatment option available. Some hearing loss are
treatable while the others are not. If you are having
untreatable hearing loss, hearing aids are an option
to help you hear better.
There are three (3) types of hearing loss which are
conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss
and mixed hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss happen
when there are abnormality or infection/disease affecting
the outer and/or the middle ear. Examples for conductive
hearing loss are impacted ear wax, atresia (absence
of ear canal) , microtia or anotia (small or absence
of the pinna), infection of the ear canal or middle
ear and perforation of the ear drum. All these are treatable,
meaning, it can be treated with medication or operation.
But, some of these problems can be recurrent, which
means, it can develop again and again. If the abnormalities/infection
is not bad enough, it won’t effect your hearing.
But, if the problem is affecting hearing, the use of
a hearing aid is advisable and it may not be permanent.
Once the infection is treated, you may not need a hearing
aid anymore. Conductive hearing loss person can easily
get better hearing by using a simple analogue hearing
aids. But, most people finds it is more comfortable
to wear a digital hearing aid.
The second type of hearing loss is sensorineural hearing
loss. It happen when there’s abnormalities/infection
to the inner ear (either the cochlear itself or the
nerve). Sensorineural is a silent disease, so, a thorough
examination is needed to detect it (especially among
babies). Sensorineural hearing loss is not treatable,
which means no drug or operation can be done to cure
it. Digital hearing aid fitting is a good choice for
more comfortable listening experience. Besides, digital
hearing aids enhance the understanding of speech which
are lost among sensorineural hearing loss individual.
The third type of hearing loss is mixed hearing loss.
Is occur when both sensorineural and conductive problem
arise together. For example, somebody with sensorineural
hearing loss which also have middle ear infection is
a mixed hearing loss individual. For more information
on the degree of hearing loss you have, please consult
your audiologist or audiometrist or simply ask the hearing
aids dispenser.
Sign or Hearing Loss
- Asking others to repeat often
- People say you're shouting when you talk to them
- You keep hearing a hissing or ringing background
noise (tinnittus)
- Difficulty understanding (not necessarily hearing)
speech in noisy places
- Your TV or radio volume are too loud for others
- Difficulty in understanding speech in the dark or
when not looking at the speaker's face.
- Speech discrimination problem - eg. you hear the
speech, but you cannot make out what it is.
- Pretending to understand; often responding inappropriately
- Avoiding groups or strangers
- Withdrawing from social activities
- Less use of telephone
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