Conductive Hearing Loss
- means that sound is not conducted properly to the inner ear
- problem is in external (outer) or middle ear
- causes:
- wax (cerumen)
- fluid
- damage to the ear drum
- infection of the tissue lining the middle ear
- malformation of the middle ear
- birth defects
- often sounds are muffled and vowel sounds are hard to hear
- usually lower frequencies are affected
- most types of conductive hearing loss can be treated medically or surgically
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
- often called ‘nerve deafness’
- most common type of hearing loss
- problem is in the inner ear (hair cells or nerve fibers)
- causes:
- pre-natal infections
- lack of oxygen at birth
- birth defects
- head injuries
- some medications
- illnesses accompanied by high fever
- exposure to loud noise
- long-term exposure to noise
- genetic factors
- often will have trouble understanding speech and distinguishing consonant sounds
- usually higher frequencies
- most types of sensorineural hearing loss CANNOT be cured medically or surgically
- hearing aids and other forms of amplification can HELP children hear and develop language and speech
Mixed Hearing Loss
- combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss
- children with sensorineural can also develop a middle ear problem such as fluid (ear infection)
- this usually makes the child’s hearing loss even worse
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