Conductive Hearing Loss occurs when sound is interrupted through the Outer or Middle ear. Common causes: Fluid in the
Middle ear, a perforated eardrum, damaged Ossicles, and wax buildup in the ear canal.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss occurs in the Inner ear affecting the transmission of sound through the Cochlea and or the
Auditory Nerve. Common causes: exposure to loud noise, trauma, normal aging, and disease.
Mixed Hearing Loss occurs in the Outer or Middle ear. It is a combination of a Conductive and Sensorineural hearing
loss. A mixed hearing loss can occur when a person has wax blocking the ear canal and a damaged Cochlea.
Most Conductive losses can be treated medically but there are times when hearing instruments are needed.
Sensorineural losses are usually treated with hearing instruments and Mixed losses are treated with a combination
of medical treatment and hearing instruments.
Normal Hearing
High Frequency Hearing Loss
Flat Line Hearing Loss
There are three parts of the ear:
1. The Outer Ear includes the pinna (A) and the ear canal (B)
2. The Middle Ear includes the eardrum (C) and the three ossicles (bones)
Commonly called the hammer (D), anvil (E), and stirrup (F) suspended
In an air-filled cavity.
3. The Inner Ear or Cochlea includes the nerve endings (G) that allows us
To hear and is the organ of balance.