Hearing loss is
a very common problem. Approximately
25% of the U.S. population over the age
of 65 has some degree of hearing loss.
Approximately, 1 in 1000 children are
born with some degree of hearing loss.
There are two
basic categories of hearing loss:
sensorineural or conductive. Some
patients have both sensorineural and
conductive hearing loss; this loss is
term mixed hearing loss.
Sensorineural
hearing loss is due to a problem with
either the inner ear or auditory nerve.
This is the form of hearing loss that is
most common in patients over the age of
65 years, but sensorineural hearing loss
can affect any age patient. A very
common, yet preventable, form of hearing
loss is due to prolonged noise
exposure. Additionally, rare small
benign tumors, called
acoustic neuromas,
can produce
sensorineural hearing loss.
Conductive hearing
loss is due to a problem with the sound
conducting mechanism of the ear. This
sound conducting mechanism includes the
ear canal, eardrum and the middle ear
bones. Most forms of conductive hearing
loss can be corrected through surgery.
One of the more common causes of
conductive hearing loss is otosclerosis
and can be corrected with a
stapedectomy.
Otitis media
and
cholesteatoma
are also a common causes of conductive
hearing loss.
Both sensorineural
and conductive hearing losses can be
rehabilitated with
hearing aids.
Patients who have severe profound
hearing loss and who no longer benefit
from hearing aids might be candidates
for
cochlear implantation.
Your physician
will ask you questions about your
hearing loss and other associated
symptoms, will examine your ears, and
will obtain an
audiogram to
help determine the cause of your hearing
loss. Other special hearing tests might
be required depending on your condition.
