Of all our senses, hearing is one of the easiest to take for granted. Early recognition improves your chances for assisting the problem. A sensorineural loss is the result of damage to the nerve fibers in the inner ear. It is commonly caused by the natural aging process, but can also be caused by noise exposure, strong medications, diabetes, stroke, and other circulatory diseases.
Hearing aids are usually the best solution to a sensorineural hearing loss.
A conductive hearing loss can be caused by an obstruction or infection in the ear canal. Other causes may include a perforation or scarring of the eardrum or middle ear, and Eustachian tube dysfunction. Otosclerosis, fixation of the middle ear bones, is another potential cause of conductive hearing loss. Most conductive hearing loss can be helped with medical treatment. Remember to have your hearing checked at least once a year by a university-trained, licensed audiologist.