Resources
Type and Degree of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is unique like a fingerprint. No two people have the same type or degree of hearing loss.
Three primary categories
Conductive
Sound waves cannot travel through the outer or middle ear structures, though the inner ear and auditory nerve function normally.
Sensorineural
Sound waves pass through the outer and middle ear, but the inner ear and/or auditory nerve sustains damage.
Mixed
A combination of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss types.
The severity of a hearing loss is classified by degree, ranging from normal to profound. Results of the audiometric evaluation are plotted on a chart called an audiogram, with loudness plotted from top to bottom and frequency, from low to high, plotted from left to right.
Tinnitus
Tinnitus is an abnormal perception of a sound which is reported by patients that is unrelated to an external source of stimulation.
This common condition often accompanies hearing loss. Treatment approaches include amplification through hearing aids, which may eliminate tinnitus or include built in masking technology to reduce its impact.
Helpful resources
- Healthy Hearing
- Better Hearing Institute
- Hope For Tinnitus
- Canadian Hard of Hearing Association
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