Introduction to Ears, Nose and Throat

Question 1

Conductive Hearing Loss

Answer 1

Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound is not conducted efficiently through the outer ear canal to the eardrum and the tiny bones (ossicles) of the middle ear.

Question 2

Possible Causes of Conductive Hearing Loss?

Answer 2

Fluid in the middle ear from colds
Ear infection (otitis media)
Allergies (serous otitis media)
Poor eustachian tube function
Perforated eardrum
Benign tumors
Impacted earwax (cerumen)
Infection in the ear canal (external otitis)
Swimmer's Ear (otitis ecxterna)
Presence of a foreign body
Absence or malformation of the outer ear, ear canal, or middle ear

Question 3

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Answer 3

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) occurs when there is damage to the inner ear (cochlea), or to the nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain.

Question 4

Possible Causes of SNHL?

Answer 4

Illnesses
    Drugs that are toxic to hearing
    Hearing loss that runs in the family (genetic or hereditary)
    Aging
    Head trauma
    Malformation of the inner ear
    Exposure to loud noise

Question 5

What is the most common type of permanent hearing loss?

Answer 5

SNHL

Question 6

Which hearing loss can be treated either medically or surgically?

Answer 6

Conductive