There are various types of hearing problems, including auditory processing issues, sensorineural hearing loss, and conductive hearing loss. Medical treatment and hearing aids can help manage and overcome hearing problems. Doctors can diagnose specific hearing disorders through hearing tests.
People usually develop hearing loss or deafness because they have one or more hearing problems. There are several types of hearing problems that result from problems with auditory processing in the brain or from damage to one or more parts of the ear. Problems include difficulties understanding spoken language, acoustic tumors and conductive hearing loss. Many people manage and overcome hearing problems with medical treatment and hearing aids. A doctor who specializes in ear care can take a hearing test to diagnose a specific type of hearing disorder.
Auditory processing problems occur when the brain improperly processes auditory signals from the inner ear. Some people have difficulty understanding spoken language because they often cannot distinguish between similar sounds. Individuals with auditory memory impairment may not be able to recall information, such as a name or phone number, that they hear during a conversation. A person who can hear well in a quiet room may have difficulty concentrating on a conversation taking place in a room where there is a lot of background noise.
Sensorineural hearing problems occur when the nerves in the inner ear are damaged and auditory information is not transmitted correctly to the brain. Sensory cells and nerves in the inner ear gradually die as a person ages and age-related hearing loss develops. Other causes of sensorineural hearing loss include exposure to loud noise, hearing tumors, and ear injuries. Several diseases and medical conditions, such as meningitis, diabetes and strokes, can cause this type of hearing loss.
Conductive hearing loss makes sounds appear distorted or soft. This type of hearing loss results from problems in the outer ear or middle ear that limit the transmission of sound to the inner ear. A buildup of earwax in the ear canal is a common cause of conductive hearing loss. People who have an infection in the middle ear or ear canal, a buildup of fluid in the middle ear, or a foreign object inside the ear canal may have hearing problems. Some individuals develop hearing loss due to a combination of sensorineural and conductive causes.
Many people with hearing impairment experience improvement in hearing after receiving medical treatment or an assistive device. Earwax buildup in an ear canal can often be removed by a doctor if earwax is causing hearing loss. A doctor can use an oil solution to soften the wax and carefully extract the waxy substance. In many cases, people with permanent hearing loss use hearing aids that are worn over the ear to improve sound quality and make hearing easier. Individuals with severe hearing loss due to damage to the inner ear may receive a cochlear implant which can improve the quality of hearing signals sent to the brain.
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