What is Hearing Impairment?

There are various forms of hearing impairment. Some are caused by physical damage or abnormalities in the person's auditory system, while others are caused by problems in the central nervous system. The different forms of hearing impairment are grouped into the following categories: sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), conductive hearing loss, central hearing loss, functional hearing loss, and mixed hearing loss. A specialist must decide which type of hearing loss is present so that the proper treatment may be administered.

Hearing loss may occur in one or both ears. It is common for someone with a hearing impairment to have differing degrees of hearing loss in each ear. Some types of hearing loss may be treatable, resulting in the restoration of some or all of a patient's hearing. Some people may gradually recover full hearing capability after a hearing loss due to exposure to loud noise, whereas some other causes of hearing loss can result in permanent hearing impairment.

Hearing impairment is the partial or total loss of the ability to hear in one or both ears, caused by damage to or deformity of one or more parts of the ear. An individual may have hearing impairment from birth or may develop the condition at any point during his life. The condition may be based in the outer, middle, or inner ear. Depending on the cause of one’s impairment and the area in which it is based, the condition may be treatable with medication, surgery, or hearing aids.

Sensorineural hearing impairment is hearing loss caused by damage to the structures of the inner ear, the auditory nerve, or the auditory cortex in the brain, which is responsible for interpreting signals from the auditory nerve. It's different from conductive hearing impairment, which normally occurs in the middle or outer ear, and is usually the result of a blockage of the ear canal that stops sound waves from reaching the inner ear. Sensorineural hearing loss can occur due to aging, infections, tumors, the use of certain drugs, or congenital deformities, among other things. This type of hearing loss can be difficult to prevent. Patients can usually benefit from one of many treatment options to improve impaired hearing.