Common Types of Hearing Loss

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is the most common type of hearing loss. More than 90 percent of all hearing aid wearers have sensorineural hearing loss.  Sensorineural hearing loss is also called "cochlear loss" and "inner ear loss" and is called "nerve loss." The most common causes of sensorineural hearing loss are age related changes in hearing and noise exposure. People with sensorineural hearing loss typically report they can hear people speak, but can't understand what they're saying. People with sensorineural hearing loss often complain "everyone mumbles." They also usually hear better in quiet places and may have difficulty understanding what is said over the telephone.

Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound is not conducted efficiently through the ear canal, eardrum, or tiny bones of the middle ear, resulting in a reduction of loudness.  Conductive losses may result from earwax blocking the ear canal, fluid in the middle ear, middle ear infection, obstructions in the ear canal, perforations (hole) in the eardrum or problems with the three middle ear bones.  A person with conductive hearing loss may notice their ears seem to be full or plugged. Conductive hearing losses should be evaluated by a physician to explore medical and surgical options. 

Mixed hearing loss means a sensorineural hearing loss combined with a conductive hearing loss. For example, the patient may have a noise induced hearing loss from noise exposure and a perforation in the eardrum. The combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss is therefore, mixed.