Conductive: A conductive loss involves hearing loss solely due to the functionality of the bones in your ear and the eardrum. A conductive loss can be caused by a variety of things. Some common causes include:

• Middle Ear Trauma-caused by prominent force to the ear drum. This could be due to an explosion, burn, or even from using cotton swabs. As Sandra says, “Never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear.”

• Otitus Media- This is more commonly known as an ear infection. This is often onset by a virus/bacterial infection. It causes the ear drum to swell and the middle ear to become filled with fluid. If not attended to appropriately it can rupture and lead to a temporary hearing loss. **Please keep in mind we are not doctors and cannot determine if you have an ear infection.

Sensorineural:  Sensory and Neural losses and often referred together as Sensorineural but are actually two different forms of losses. Sensory loss involves damage to the Cochlea. Neural loss involves damage caused to the auditory nerve that carries the signal to the brain. 

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Central: Central hearing loss occurs in the auditory cortex of the brain.

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Mixed: A mixed loss means there is a combination of losses: Conductive, Sensorineural, Central. An example of a mixed loss could be Presbycusis. This is caused by the natural aging process. Although it is typically a Sensorineural issue it can involve the entire ear, causing it to be a mixed loss.