There are various types of hearing loss, most falling into one of two categories depending upon the origin of the loss. Conductive hearing loss can be localized to the outer or middle ear including the visible ear, the ear canal, eardrum, middle ear bones or any combination thereof. Sensorineural hearing loss involves the inner ear (cochlea/auditory nerve) and occurs when the hair cells, neural fibers and/or their connections to the cochlea are damaged or do not function properly. One can have both a conductive and sensorineural hearing loss which is then referred to as a mixed loss.
Our audiologists employ a variety of methods for identifying and diagnosing hearing loss in adults and children. These include pure tone assessment, speech testing, evaluation of the middle ear system, and otoacoustic emissions.
