Types of Hearing Loss

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Our Audiology Clinics in Calgary Can Help

In Canada, 1 in 16 Canadians have hearing loss. Due to our aging population, hearing loss is one of the fastest growing, most prevalent chronic conditions facing Canadians today. By age 60, almost half of Canadians have hearing loss that affects their ability to understand what they hear correctly.  

Whether your hearing loss is mild, moderate or severe, conductive or sensorineural, our approach at Audiology Innovations is to develop a meaningful relationship with you, providing education, support and resources to choose an effective solution to address your own personal hearing challenges.

If you feel you could benefit from our expertise, contact us today!

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HOW HEARING WORKS

We believe it is very important to educate our patients that the process of hearing includes both the ear AND the brain. Essentially we ‘hear’ with our ears but ‘listen’ and make sense of what we hear with our brain. Sound is made up of tiny air vibrations. The ear changes the sound vibrations at the eardrum and inner ear hair cells into an electrical signal that can be understood by the brain. The brain is the most important part of hearing since that is where sounds are converted into information that we can understand. There are a number of reasons why hearing becomes more challenging as we age and this is often related to changes in the brain.

Each part of the ear has a different job. Lets look at the Middle, Inner and Outer Ear.

There are four types of hearing loss; Conductive, Sensorineural, Mixed and Central. If any part of the hearing system is unable to function the result is hearing loss.

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Conductive Hearing Loss

A conductive hearing loss is caused by any condition or disease that impedes the conveyance of sound in its mechanical form through the middle ear cavity to the inner ear. A conductive hearing loss can be the result of a blockage in the external ear canal or can be caused by any disorder that unfavorably affects the middle ear’s ability to transmit the mechanical energy to the stapes footplate.

This result is the reduction of one of the physical attributes of sound called intensity (loudness), so the energy reaching the inner ear is lower or less intense than that in the original stimulus. Therefore, more energy is needed for individuals with a conductive hearing loss to hear sound, but once it’s loud enough and the mechanical impediment is overcome, the ear works in a normal way. Generally, the cause of conductive hearing loss can be identified and treated resulting in a complete or partial improvement in hearing. Following the completion of medical treatment for causes of the conductive hearing loss, hearing aids are effective in correcting the remaining hearing loss.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Sensorineural hearing loss results from inner ear or auditory nerve dysfunction. The sensory component may be from damage to the organ of Corti, an inability of the hair cells to stimulate the nerves of hearing or a metabolic problem in the fluids of the inner ear. The neural or retrocochlear component can be the result of severe damage to the organ of Corti that causes the nerves of hearing to degenerate or it can be an inability of the hearing nerves themselves to convey neuro chemical information through the central auditory pathways.

The reason for sensorineural hearing loss sometimes cannot be determined, it does not typically respond favorably to medical treatment, and it is typically described as an irreversible, permanent condition. Like conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss reduces the intensity of sound, but it might also introduce an element of distortion into what is heard resulting in sounds being unclear even when they are loud enough. Once any medically treatable conditions have been ruled out, individuals with a sensorineural hearing loss can be fit with hearing aids to give them access to speech and other important sounds.

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Mixed Hearing Loss

A mixed hearing loss can be thought of as a sensorineural hearing loss with a conductive component overlaying all or part of the audiometric range tested. So, in addition to some irreversible hearing loss caused by an inner ear or auditory nerve disorder, there is also a dysfunction of the middle ear mechanism that makes the hearing worse than the sensorineural loss alone.

The conductive component may be amenable to medical treatment and reversal of the associated hearing loss, but the sensorineural component will most likely be permanent. Hearing aids can be beneficial for individuals with a mixed hearing loss, but caution must be exercised by the hearing care professional if the conductive component is due to an active ear infection.

Central Hearing Loss

Central hearing loss is caused by a problem with the auditory nerve or sound centres. Sounds waves may travel through the ear but this nerve pathway is unable to send electrical impulses to the brain. As a result the hearing centres do not receive the signals correctly. Central hearing loss can be a result of a head injury or disease. A common symptom is the ability to detect sound but not being able to understand it.

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Choose Audiology Innovations in Calgary Today

Audiology Innovations is your source for the best hearing care in Calgary. Our caring and compassionate audiologists have years of experience helping you to once again hear the sounds of this world clearly and distinctly. We offer a wide variety of hearing aid options to fit your needs.

When you first schedule your audiology appointment, we'll perform a hearing test and a thorough evaluation of your hearing. We'll recommend if you need hearing aids or a listening device. We also offer hearing aid repairs and adjustments in order to improve the function of your current devices. We offer custom earplugs, listening training programs, and so much more.

If you are in need of a hearing test or have questions or concerns about your hearing, contact our Calgary audiology clinic today!

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We want to know what each patient’s unique hearing challenges are. We therefore complete a thorough audiometric test battery as well as ‘listening in noise’ testing. This gives us a better understanding of the ‘real world’ hearing abilities you have.

There is extensive research to show that early identification and treatment is critical to good brain health.