The 3 Types of Hearing Loss

Many people have some degree of hearing loss, either sensorineural hearing loss or conductive hearing loss. Despite that, only about 14% of people who could benefit use hearing aids [6]. However, the impact of hearing loss can go far beyond playing the TV too loud. Consequences of hearing loss can be profound:

• Social isolation.
• Lack of independence.
• Depression.
• Early dementia.

Children may also have difficulty learning speech sounds.

The first sign of hearing loss is often trouble hearing high pitch sounds like alarms or higher voices. It may come in one ear or both. Even basic aids are helpful, while the best hearing aids have many features to make life easier. Hearing aids may be one of several treatment options available.

How To Get Your Hearing Tested

Your usual doctor may be the best place to start. They can perform a pair of simple tuning fork tests, the Weber and Rinne test, used in evaluating hearing loss. A tuning fork test can only detect hearing loss in one ear. For example, when testing for conductive hearing loss, a comparison between hearing sounds conducted by air, or through the bone, must be made for both ears.

A more formal test probably requires a trip to the audiologist, who will play a variety of low and high-pitched sounds into a patient’s ear. They can then judge the exact range of hearing loss of the affected ear.

Online tests can also be a good place to start. The best online hearing tests use a process similar to an audiologist, though less precise.

Types of Hearing Aids

Most people are familiar with conventional hearing aids. Some options may be better depending on the type of hearing loss. Varieties include:

• Behind-the-ear: These sit behind the ear with a tube carrying sound into the ear. They are easy to manipulate, with several different volume settings.

• Receiver-in-the-canal: This entire hearing aid sits in the ear canal, offering better sound and higher amplification, with a lower chance of feedback. They are more liable to degradation and not recommended for those with frequent ear infections.
• Custom-shape: The most discreet option, this option includes the in-the-ear, in-the-canal, and completely-in-the-ear. They are useful in contexts with noisy backgrounds, but small batteries mean less amplification.

Modern hearing aids may also have Bluetooth connectivity, fine-tuning through an app, or a range of other fancy features [7]. 

Conventional aids may be less helpful when the problem is conductive hearing loss. Other options include bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA) and cochlear implants. Both bypass the middle ear. BAHAs use bone conduction to transmit sound to the inner ear. Cochlear implants create a link directly to the auditory nerve [8].

FAQ

Looking for answers to a specific question regarding hearing loss? See if it’s among these frequently asked questions.

How Do You Know If Hearing Loss Is Sensorineural or Conductive?

The only real way to know is to visit your doctor, who might be able to give you an answer after a couple of simple tuning fork tests. It may be difficult to determine which is the cause on your own, as it may involve damage to the middle ear or inner ear. 

The context of the hearing loss may be able to give you some idea. If you recently heard a loud noise, it’s probably sensorineural hearing loss. A recent ear infection will more likely result in conductive hearing loss. It can be difficult to know by symptoms alone.

How Can I Check My Hearing at Home?

Home tests can’t really substitute for or provide medical advice. However, you might be able to use a simple tuning fork to at least get an idea of any potential hearing loss.

There are actually two tuning fork tests you can perform, the Rinne test and the Weber test. They both use the idea of the air-bone gap, the fact that we hear sound more clearly through air conduction than bone conduction. 

To perform the Rinne test, cover the ear you’re not testing. Place a vibrating tuning fork on your jaw bone, or mastoid bone, below your ear. Note for how long you can hear the tone. 

Do the same thing, but now hold the tuning fork beside your ear. If you can hear the tone longer through the bone conduction than through the air conduction, you may have conductive loss. You’ll need to do both the right ear and left ear.

To perform the Weber test, place a vibrating tuning fork on the center of the temporal bone, right in the center of your forehead. If the sound is ‘loudest’ on the midline, you have normal hearing. If it’s louder to one side or the other, you may have sensorineural hearing loss.

How Can I Restore My Hearing Naturally?

There has been some study of treating hearing loss with vitamins, acupuncture, and other alternative treatments [9]. The results have been mixed, particularly as there is a lack of high-quality research on some treatments. As a result, it’s difficult to recommend any natural treatment.

If you’ve had hearing loss confirmed through a hearing test, your doctor can provide more guidance.

What Vitamins Help Hearing?

There is evidence that some vitamins can play a role in the development of healthy hearing. Vitamins that may help include:

• Vitamin D [10].
• Vitamin A.
• Vitamin C.
• Vitamin E.
• Magnesium [11].

Note that these are most effective in preventative health care and probably won’t reverse existing hearing loss.

Conclusion

Hearing loss isn’t just aggravating, it can have a significant impact on wider health. Hearing loss can make it more difficult to learn speech sounds, or even speed the onset of early dementia. However, understanding the different types of hearing loss is the first step to making informed choices about treatment.