Types of Hearing Loss

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Sensorineural hearing loss happens when the auditory nerve or inner ear hair cells are damaged by injury, age, noise, illness or heredity. This type is not usually reversible but can be particularly improved through hearing aids.

Conductive hearing loss results from the inability of sounds to enter the inner ear because of infection, a punctured eardrum or an excess of cerumen (earwax). Such problems can often be resolved through medicine or surgery.

Mixed hearing loss involves a combination of sensorineural and conductive loss.