Executive Team Search Online hearing test Find a provider HEARING AIDS HEARING LOSS TINNITUS VETERANS SUPPORT Types and causes of hearing loss Learn the three types of hearing loss and their main causes. By the time we reach 65, one in three of us will have a hearing impairment.1 1. Source: National Institutes of Health Types of hearing loss There are three types of hearing loss — sensorineural hearing loss, conductive hearing loss, and mixed hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type of hearing loss. It occurs when the inner ear nerves and hair cells are damaged — perhaps due to age, noise damage or something else. Sensorineural hearing loss impacts the pathways from your inner ear to your brain. Most times, sensorineural hearing loss cannot be corrected medically or surgically, but can be treated and helped with the use of hearing aids. Conductive hearing loss Conductive hearing loss is typically the result of obstructions in the outer or middle ear — perhaps due to fluid, tumors, earwax or even ear formation. This obstruction prevents sound from getting to the inner ear. Conductive hearing loss can often be treated surgically or with medicine. Mixed hearing loss Mixed hearing loss is just what it sounds like — a combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss. As with any medical condition, it’s best to know what you “have” before deciding what to do about it. A consultation with a hearing professional can help determine the type, cause and degree of your hearing loss. Click here to find an experienced provider near you. Degrees of hearing loss There are four clinically labeled degrees of hearing loss: Mild If you have mild hearing loss, you may hear some speech sounds, but will have difficulty with soft sounds. Moderate If you have moderate hearing loss, you’ll struggle to hear/understand speech when someone is talking at a normal level. Severe If you have severe hearing loss, you will hear little-to-no speech when spoken at normal levels, and hear only some loud sounds. Profound If you have profound hearing loss, you may only hear very loud sounds and no speech at all. Causes of hearing loss Hearing loss is caused by many factors, most frequently from natural aging or exposure to loud noise. The most common causes of hearing loss are: Aging Noise exposure Head trauma Virus or disease Genetics Ototoxicity Things that can cause sensorineural hearing loss are: Aging Injury Excessive noise exposure Viral infections (such as measles or mumps) Shingles Ototoxic drugs (medications that damage hearing) Meningitis Diabetes Stroke High fever or elevated body temperature Ménière's disease (a disorder of the inner ear that can affect hearing and balance) Acoustic tumors Heredity Obesity Smoking Hypertension Things that can cause conductive hearing loss are: Infections of the ear canal or middle ear resulting in fluid or pus buildup Perforation or scarring of the eardrum Wax buildup Dislocation of the middle ear bones (ossicles) Foreign object in the ear canal Otosclerosis (an abnormal bone growth in the middle ear) Abnormal growths or tumors Next: Symptoms You might also like: Watch the video Signs of hearing loss The early warning signs of hearing loss are often missed. Learn what to look for. Watch the video Can earwax cause hearing loss? We all have earwax, and that's actually a good thing. But can it cause hearing loss? Find out Aren't all hearing aids the same? All hearing aids are designed to amplify sounds, but that's where the similarities end. See for yourself HEARING AIDS Hearing aids Reviews Costs & financing Tinnitus For veterans Hearing aid finder HEARING LOSS Online hearing test Types & causes Signs of hearing loss Treatment Help a loved one SUPPORT Get help Learn how Videos Warranty Operations manuals ABOUT STARKEY About us Careers News Blog Newsletter Contact us Media inquiries Starkey Cares Hear better. Live better. SIGN UP FOR THE LATEST UPDATES FROM STARKEY Your email Starkey Hearing Foundation Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Linked In Blog © 2007-2021 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Free better hearing guide Internet sales policy Privacy & terms Trademarks Global locations Privacy Notice We use cookies on our websites to personalize your experience, provide social media features, and analyze traffic. By using this site, you agree to our use of cookies. We may also collect and share personal information, as described in our privacy policy. Please review our privacy policy for more information about your privacy rights, including under the California Consumer Privacy Act, and the General Data Protection Regulation. Ok