We divide hearing losses into three according to the region in the ear where they originate:
Sensorineural Type Hearing Losses: These types of hearing losses are also called inner ear type or neural hearing losses. These losses are caused by damage to the hearing organ and auditory nerve in the inner ear, which we call the cochlea. Inner ear type hearing loss can be congenital or acquired. Inner ear type hearing loss seen in adulthood usually occurs due to genetic reasons, age, inner ear infections, Meniere's disease, and ototoxic drug use. Some of these may progress over time and hearing loss may increase. In this type of hearing loss, it is not possible to correct hearing with surgery. Some of the rapid and sudden hearing losses can be corrected with drug treatment in the early stages. However, if more than a few months have passed, it is generally not possible to correct these losses with medication. These patients need to use a hearing aid in the ear with hearing loss. In patients with severe hearing loss that cannot benefit from a hearing aid, special implants, which we call cochlear implants, are surgically placed into the inner ear and the patients are allowed to hear with the implant.
Conductive Hearing Loss: This type of hearing loss. Hearing losses caused by problems in the outer ear canal and middle ear. As the name suggests, there is a problem in the transmission of sound to the inner ear. These patients usually have damage to the eardrum and/or ear ossicles in the middle ear. These damages may be caused by a hole in the eardrum, an infection or cholesteatoma in the middle ear, or fused, broken or calcified ear ossicles. Most conductive hearing loss is caused by diseases that can be corrected by surgery. Therefore, in this type of hearing loss, there is a chance to correct the hearing loss with surgery. If the hearing loss cannot be corrected by surgery or if the patient does not want to undergo surgery, then the patient must use a hearing aid.
Mixed Type Hearing Loss: In this type of hearing loss, the patient has hearing loss in both the middle ear and the hearing aid. He has a problem with his inner ear. In other words, a form of hearing loss Some of them are of conduction type and some of them are of inner ear type. In this type of hearing loss, inner ear hearing loss and conductive hearing loss occur together. In these patients, only conductive hearing loss can be corrected by surgery.
The degree of hearing loss in the patient and where the loss originates are determined by hearing tests. Therefore, it is very important that hearing tests are performed by competent people and in accordance with their technique. Because the doctor will decide whether to operate your ear or not, based on the results of your hearing test along with your examination.
Read: 0
