Mixed Hearing Loss.
What Is Mixed Hearing Loss?
Mixed hearing loss is trouble hearing in both the middle or outer ear – known as conductive hearing loss – and the inner ear – known as sensorineural hearing loss. The primary symptoms of mixed hearing loss include difficulty hearing soft sounds and trouble understanding speech, particularly in noisy environments. Causes of mixed hearing loss can vary, but typically result from a combination of factors affecting the different parts of the ear.
Causes of Mixed Hearing Loss
Anything that causes a conductive hearing loss or SNHL can lead to a mixed hearing loss. An example would be if you have a hearing loss because you work around loud noises and you have fluid in your middle ear. The two together might make your hearing worse than it would be with only one problem.
Causes
- Infections – Ear infections can cause inflammation and fluid buildup in the middle ear, leading to conductive hearing loss. Infections can also damage the inner ear.
- TraumaTrauma – Injuries to the ear or head, including skull fractures.
- hearing loss – As you get older, it is common for your hearing to gradually become worse. This is called presbycusis and it often causes sensorineural hearing loss.
- Noise exposure – Hearing loss can happen if you are around loud sounds for a long time, or if you hear a loud noise suddenly. This can damage the tiny hair cells inside the ear that help us hear.
Signs & Symptoms
- Decreased hearing sensitivit
- Difficulty understanding speech
- Tinnitus
- Ear pain or pressure
- Sirens
- Fireworks show