Hearing loss is a condition that can be complicated to treat.
There are 2 types of hearing loss. They are conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss.
You can either of these or have both at the same time.
Many people are already aware of both types of hearing loss.
However, what many people are not aware of, is mixed hearing loss. So, exactly what is mixed hearing loss?
Below you’ll find an overview of mixed hearing loss and its causes and symptoms.
What Is Mixed Hearing Loss?
As the name suggests, mixed hearing loss is essentially the combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss. This means that you are experiencing both types of hearing loss.
But what exactly are these 2 types of hearing loss? Let us find out.
Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss is hearing loss that occurs in the outer or middle ear. This type of hearing loss is not permanent; how it is treated depends on its cause.
Causes of conductive hearing loss may include ear wax accumulation and ear infections.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
On the other hand, sensorineural hearing loss is a condition where your inner ears are damaged. This hearing loss is permanent as opposed to conductive hearing loss.
Permanent hearing loss is often caused by aging. However, other causes of inner ear hearing loss may include prolonged and recurrent exposure to very loud noises.
As stated earlier, mixed hearing loss is when you are experiencing both types of hearing loss.
Causes of Mixed Hearing Loss
Causes of mixed hearing loss are the same as the causes of both temporary and permanent hearing loss, such as:
- Genetic factors
- Birth conditions
- Aging
- Prolonged exposure to noise
- Head trauma
- Tumors and diseases
- Certain medications
- Ear wax
- Ear infections
For example, if you have an ear infection and you work at a place where you are usually exposed to loud noises, such as construction or a factory, you may also get inner ear hearing loss.
Other causes of mixed hearing loss include acoustic neuroma or other cancerous developments in the inner ear, along with temporary hearing loss causes.
Symptoms Of Mixed Hearing Loss
Symptoms of mixed hearing loss may include difficulty understanding what other people are saying, especially in a noisy environment. People with soft voices are more difficult to understand for people experiencing mixed hearing loss.
Other symptoms include tinnitus or the ringing of the ears, as well as being off-balanced or dizzy. Treatment for mixed hearing loss will depend on which type of hearing loss is more severe.
If your hearing loss is more conductive in nature, chances are treatments such as surgical procedures and other medical treatments are the usual options a hearing specialist will recommend.
However, if your hearing loss is more likely to be permanent, tearing aids or cochlear implants may be best for you.
Usually, the best type of hearing aids for people with mixed hearing loss is behind-the-ear hearing aids. The reason is that BTE hearing aids have more power for severe-to-profound hearing loss.