Types of Hearing Loss

If you or a loved one are experiencing hearing issues, there could be a number of causes. With so many types of hearing loss, it can be confusing and intimidating to seek help. However, many treatment options are available for people with difficulty hearing, whether in conversations, on the phone, or in noisy environments.

While hearing loss can occur at any age, it’s most prevalent among older populations. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, the following age groups show high levels of hearing loss:

Between 65 and 74 years old: about one in three has a hearing loss
Over 75 years old: nearly half have difficulty hearing

However, not all hearing loss is the same—the type and treatment depends on what part of your hearing is damaged. In this article, we'll give you an in-depth overview of the three main types of hearing loss: sensorineural, conductive, and mixed.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

The onset of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) appears in approximately 66,000 people each year in the U.S. This type of hearing loss is often called “nerve hearing loss.” It stems from damage to the auditory nerve (connects the ear to the brain), hair cells (transmit sound in the inner ear), or both.

In most cases, acquired sensorineural hearing loss worsens gradually, although it can happen suddenly as well. In contrast, congenital hearing loss occurs before birth.

You can experience SNHL in one ear (unilateral) or both ears (bilateral). It can involve high, middle, low, or all three sound pitch levels. The degree of hearing loss—mild, moderate, moderately-severe, severe, or profound—depends on the type and level of damage.

Sensorineural hearing loss has many causes, including aging, excessive noise exposure, diseases (multiple sclerosis, Meniere’s disease), viral infections (meningitis, mumps, measles), head and ear injuries, and inherited genes. Of all types of hearing loss, this one is usually permanent. Therefore, treatment options are typically limited to hearing aids, hearing implants, assistive listening devices, captioning technology, and lip-reading.

Let's go over different types of sensorineural hearing loss:

High-Frequency Hearing Loss

People with high-frequency hearing loss have trouble hearing high-pitched sounds. These sounds fall between 2000 to 8000 Hertz (e.g., electronic beeps, children’s voices). This hearing loss results from damaged hair cells in the inner ear. Symptoms and treatment vary depending on the degree of hearing loss.

Causes of High-Frequency Hearing Loss

Aging
Trauma
Loud noises
Genetics
Ototoxic medications

Symptoms of High-Frequency Hearing Loss

Voices seem muffled
Words are indistinguishable
Certain sounds are inaudible

Presbycusis

Presbycusis (age-related hearing loss) is a common type that most people experience. As you age, you typically start losing the ability to pick up high-frequency sounds. Over time, it may be hard to hear low and middle frequencies. Age-related hearing loss primarily originates in the inner ear, but can also be from changes in the middle ear and nerve pathways. Symptoms can vary widely due to other factors in addition to aging.

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Causes of Presbycusis

Aging
Damaged hair cells
Loud noises
Genetics
Health conditions (e.g., diabetes, heart disease)
Certain medications (e.g., aspirin, antibiotics)

Symptoms of Presbycusis

Speech appears slurred
"S," "th," and similar high-pitched sounds are hard to distinguish
Background noise makes it difficult to have conversations
Women and children are hard to understand
Sensitivity makes sounds seem loud and irritating
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

Auditory Neuropathy

Auditory neuropathy is a hearing disorder where the inner ear can detect sound, but the signal doesn’t reach the brain. You can get this hearing loss in adulthood, but it’s more common in children. Diagnosing auditory neuropathy usually requires a combination of hearing evaluations, particularly for children.

Causes of Auditory Neuropathy

Issues with the ear-to-brain pathway
Brain can’t process sounds
Inner ear hair cell damage
Nerve damage
Genetic factors
Premature birth

Symptoms of Auditory Neuropathy

Infants:

Don’t turn toward voices
No reaction to loud noises
Lack of imitating sounds or cooing
No response to name being called

Adults and children:

Normal hearing but poor speech recognition
Sounds may fade in and out
Sounds appear out of sync
Mild to severe hearing loss

Conductive Hearing Loss

Several different types of hearing loss fall under conductive hearing loss, which involves a blockage in the middle or outer ear. Unlike sensorineural hearing loss, the nerves and hair cells might be healthy, but the sound never reaches them.

There are many causes of conductive hearing loss, including ear wax build-up, fluid from a cold or ear infection, water in the ear, foreign objects in the ear, a hole in the eardrum, bony growths in the ear, and injured ear bones.

The good thing about conductive hearing loss is that it’s often temporary, reversible, and treatable. As with most types of hearing loss, treatment will depend on the cause. Treatment could be as simple as taking medication or involve a more complex procedure like surgery. If hearing loss is permanent, then hearing aids may help.

Clogged Ears

You probably know how clogged ears feel if you’ve ever flown in a plane or driven in the mountains. Luckily, chewing gum or decreased elevations help alleviate the pressure. However, when a medical condition causes your ears to be plugged, you may experience ongoing hearing loss and other uncomfortable symptoms. If left untreated, some hearing issues could become permanent.

Causes of Clogged Ears

Ear wax build-up
Sinusitis (colds, flu, cystic fibrosis, autoimmune disorders)
Allergies (seasonal allergies, skin allergies)
Middle ear infections
Loud, excessive noise
Ear barotrauma (altitude changes)
Meniere’s disease (inner ear disorder)
Acoustic neuroma (tumor on the auditory nerve)

Symptoms of Clogged Ears

Muffled voices and sounds
Earache or pain
Dizziness or vertigo
Pressure in the ear
Fluid draining from the ear
Crackling noises
Ringing in the ear

Treatments for Clogged Ears

Ear drops to loosen wax
Warm compress and steam
Valsalva maneuver (breathing technique)
Medications for infections and allergies

Water in the Ear

It’s nearly impossible to avoid getting water in the ear. After all, you must bathe and perhaps enjoy swimming and other activities around water. The ear does a pretty good job of draining itself, but sometimes water settles there. The longer it sits in your ear, the more likely you’ll develop an ear infection called otitis externa (“swimmer’s ear”).

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Causes of Water in the Ear

Bathing
Swimming
Sauna
Hot tub
Earbuds

Symptoms of Water in the Ear

Strange tickling sensation in the ear
Earache or severe pain
Ear pressure
Itchy ears
Muffled hearing
Fluid or pus in the ear
Red or warm ear
Fever
Dizziness

Treatments for Water in the Ear

Tilt head for several minutes
Jiggle earlobe while tilting head
Yawn or chew gum
Dry ears with a hairdryer (low setting)
Use the Valsalva maneuver

Mixed Hearing Loss

It’s possible to have a combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss. Suppose you had an earache and took antibiotics to clear it up. Your checkup shows no sign of infection, but you still have difficulty hearing. There could be other reasons for your hearing loss, such as nerve or hair cell damage in your inner ear. A licensed audiologist can provide treatment options based on hearing test results.

Take a free online hearing test right now—it only takes a few minutes—and get immediate results! Or you may visit a local hearing clinic to learn more about your hearing.

Explore Better Hearing Options

Many types of hearing loss affect millions of people, but the condition often goes untreated. In fact, only 1 in 4 adults who could benefit from hearing aids have used them. Although sensorineural hearing loss is usually irreversible, hearing aids can prevent further damage and may also be an excellent option for mixing hearing loss.

MDHearing offers a range of affordable FDA-registered hearing aids. Whether you have sensorineural, conductive, or mixed hearing loss, our U.S.-based audiologists are here to help. Contact us to take advantage of the 45-day risk-free trial on any one of our high-quality hearing aids.

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