What Causes Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss can make it difficult to follow conversations, hear questions, watch television, and perform a variety of daily tasks. If you're having trouble hearing, then a Winnipeg hearing centre can help you figure out what may be causing it and what can be done to help. At Kemp Hearing Centres we make sure that all of our patients understand which type of hearing loss they are experiencing. There are three main types of hearing loss: conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, and mixed hearing loss.

Conductive Hearing Loss 

When hearing loss is due to some issue with the way that sound travels through the ear canal, the ear drum, or the three little bones in the middle ear (the malleus, incus, and stapes), it is said to be conductive in origin. With certain medical or surgical interventions which allow the sound to conduct freely again, conductive hearing loss can often be successfully treated. Conductive hearing loss may be caused by:

• A buildup of earwax 
• Compacted earwax 
• A buildup of fluid in the middle ear
• An ear infection 
• A foreign object in the ear 
• The growth of a benign tumour 
• A perforated eardrum 
• Abnormal bone growth in or near the middle ear 
• Malformation of the outer or middle ear structures

Sensorineural Hearing Loss
When hearing loss is caused by problems with the inner ear and with the nerve pathways which convert sound waves into electrical signals that then travel to the brain, it is known as being sensorineural in nature. Sensorineural hearing loss is usually permanent, but can often be corrected with hearing aids. Sensorineural hearing loss may be caused by:

• The natural aging process 
• Exposure to loud noises 
• Working in an excessively noisy environment
• Certain viruses and diseases (such as autoimmune inner ear disease) 
• Head trauma 
• Genetic factors
• Tumours 
• Certain medications 
• Malformation of the inner ear structures

Mixed Hearing Loss
Mixed hearing loss refers to any combination of conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss. This means that there is some level of damage to the inner ear's nerve pathways and also some issue with the way sound is being conducted through the outer or middle ear. Mixed hearing loss will therefore have been caused by some combination of the causes of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, and can be treated with a combination of the treatments used for both.

Experiencing Hearing Loss? Visit a Winnipeg Hearing Centre Today
For anyone who is having trouble hearing in Winnipeg, a free hearing test can help get to the bottom of the problem. At Kemp Hearing Centres we'll find out whether your hearing loss is conductive, sensorineural, or a mix of both. With the latest hearing health care techniques and technology, we'll also be able to devise the best solution for your unique situation.

Don't let hearing loss get in the way of your daily life. Contact Kemp Hearing Centres for a free hearing test in Winnipeg today.