Types of hearing loss

Question 1

What are the types of HL?

Answer 1

Conductive
Sensorineural
Mixed

Question 2

What is conductive hearing loss caused by?

Answer 2

Outer/middle ear problems.

Outer ear - foreign body or wax
Middle ear - Otitis or otosclerosis

Question 3

What is sensorineural hearing loss caused by?

Answer 3

Inner ear/nerve problems.

Inner ear - presbycusis or ototoxicity
Nerve - VII nerve tumour

Question 4

What is mixed hearing loss caused by?

Answer 4

Problems with multiple parts of the ear.
Both conduction and transduction are affected.

Question 5

Describe the differences in how the frequencies of air/bone conduction are affected in each type of hearing loss.

Answer 5

Conductive -Bone conduction is higher on the graph than air conduction. Air cant get through due to blockage.

Sensorineural - Air/bone conduction are the same, worse at higher frequencies.

Mixed - somewhere in-between conductive and sensorineural, air is worse.

Question 6

What are some treatments for hearing loss?

Answer 6

Dealing with underlying cause.

Cochlear implants - replace function of hair cells by receiving and analysing sound, transforming it into electrical signals and sending an impulse to nerve therefore NEEDS A FUNCTIONAL AUDITORY NERVE TO FUNCTION.