Hearing Loss
Hearing loss or deafness is the partial / total inability to hear a sound in one
or both ears. It can also be explained as any alteration of hearing capacity. Hearing impairment can be various degree including mild, moderate, severe, profound or total hearing impairment. It can be unilateral (Present in 1 ear), bilateral (Present in both ears) . Hearing loss in one ear is a frustrating experience for patient. He / she may have difficulty
- in distinguishing the direction of sound
- difficulty to understand speech in noisy
environment
Hence require face-to-face conversation.
Auditory system can be divided into outer ear, middle ear, inner ear, auditory nerve and finally the nervous system. Thus depending upon the particular part of auditory system effected, hearing loss can be divided into different types. An audiologist tries to localize where in the hearing pathway
where the problem lies so as to classify the hearing loss to one of the following groups.
This is most important in determining the appropriate treatment
or rehabilitation.
Types of hearing loss:
Conductive: This due to the condition that interferes with the transmissions of sound through outer ear and middle ear to inner ear.
In case of conductive hearing loss, sound waves are not transmitted to inner
ear because of |
