Not all forms of hearing loss are the same. Find out which kind you might have.
Are you starting to notice that it’s getting harder and harder to hear those around you? Do you feel like you are missing out on important conversations? If so, then it’s time to see your Wayne, NJ ENT doctor, Dr. Frank Kardos, for a proper diagnosis.
Not all hearing loss is created equally. Here are the three different kinds:
Conductive Hearing Loss
This form of hearing is brought on by a disease or problem that affects how sound waves are conducted in the outer ear, eardrum or middle ear. Those with conductive hearing loss may hear sounds more faintly or you may notice a significant reduction in how much you can hear.
Some of the most common causes of conductive hearing loss include:
- Allergies
- Perforated eardrum
- Ear infection
- Fluid in the middle ear (often caused by a cold)
- Impacted earwax
- Ear canal infection
- Swimmer’s ear
- Foreign object in the ear
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
If there is damage to the inner ear or to the nerve that runs from the inner ear to the brain, you are dealing with sensorineural hearing loss. Along with only hearing noises faintly, even louder conversations and sounds may be muffled and difficult to hear.
Sensorineural can be brought on by:
- Illness
- Aging
- Head trauma
- Genetic hearing loss
- Inner ear malformation
- Exposure to loud sounds
Mixed Hearing Loss
There are times that both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss occur together. This means there is both damage to the middle or outer ear as well as the inner ear or auditory nerve.
Not sure what type of hearing loss you are dealing with? This is where your ear doctor in Wayne can conduct exams and tests to see how significant your hearing loss is, the root cause and how to best treat it.
Hearing loss can easily draw you away from the conversations and people you love most. Don’t let it get in the way of your life. If you are dealing with hearing loss in Wayne, NJ, it’s time you turned to Dr. Frank Kardos to help you get better hearing today.