Types of hearing loss
Conductive hearing loss
What causes it
Conductive hearing loss often relates to excessive ear wax, closure of the ear canal, damage to the middle ear bone mechanisms, a history of ear infections, perforated eardrums, or inflammation in the outer or middle ear.
Not all conductive hearing loss is permanent, however some is. Depending on the type, surgical intervention may partially or fully restore hearing in some cases.
Because wax blockage is one of the more common and most easily fixed causes, a blocked-feeling ear with reduced hearing is always worth having looked at before assuming the loss is permanent.
At a glance
Is it permanent?
Sometimes reversible. Surgical intervention may partially or fully restore hearing in some cases.
Treatment options
- Ear wax removal where wax is the cause
- Medical or surgical treatment
- Hearing aids
The first step is always the same
Other types of hearing loss
Hearing loss is rarely just one thing. These are the other types we see and treat.
Sensorineural hearing loss
Permanent. Not treatable through surgical intervention.
Mixed hearing loss
Partly reversible in some cases, depending on the conductive component.
Noise-induced hearing loss
Permanent, but largely preventable through hearing protection.
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss
Usually permanent. Outcomes depend heavily on how quickly treatment starts.
Find out exactly what is going on with your hearing
A free hearing checkup includes a hearing test and a plain-English explanation of the result. No cost, no obligation.