Before we can start sharing stories and spreading awareness, we need to discuss the types of hearing loss.
But first, what is hearing loss? Hearing loss is when any part of the ear or auditory system is not working properly. This can be any part of the ear, outer, middle, inner, or the nerves.
There are 4 types of hearing loss:
- Conductive
Caused when something is stopping sounds from traveling through the outer or middle ear.
- Sensorineural
Caused when there is an issue in the inner ear or the hearing nerve
- Mixed
Includes both conductive and sensorineural
- Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder.
Hearing loss where sound will enter the ear normally, but damage to the inner ear and/or hearing nerve causes the sound to be organized in a way the brain can not understand.
The degrees at which the amount of loss is can range from being mild to very profound.
We can also describe hearing loss as:
- Unilateral vs Bilateral
Hearing loss in one ear or both ears
- Pre-lingual vs Post-lingual
Hearing loss happened before vs after a person learned to speak.
- Symmetrical vs Asymmetrical
Hearing loss is the same in both ears or different between the two
- Progressive or Sudden
Hearing loss either happens quickly or it gets worse over time
- Fluctuating or Stable
Hearing loss either gets better or worse as time passes or it will stay the same
- Congenital or Acquired (Delayed) Onset
Hearing loss is present at birth or it developed later in life