There are many kinds of hearing loss, but most fall into two categories: sensorineural or conductive.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

This is the most common type of hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by damage to the tiny hair cells in the ear that help transmit sound to your brain. These can bend or break due to:

• Exposure to very loud noises
• Genetic disposition
• Virus infections in the inner ear
• Certain medical treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation
• Head injury
• Age

The effects are almost always the same – it becomes harder to distinguish speech from noise, certain high-pitched sounds such as birdsong disappear altogether, people seem to be mumbling and you often have to ask them to repeat themselves.

Sensorineural hearing loss is permanent and can’t be corrected medically, but a hearing aid can almost always help.

Conductive Hearing Loss

This is caused by any blockage that prevents sound reaching the inner ear. This might include:

• A build-up of earwax
• Fluid in the middle ear
• Unusual bone growth in the middle ear
• Middle ear infections
• Small holes in the eardrum

Conductive hearing loss is not necessarily permanent and can often be corrected medically or surgically.

Mixed Hearing Loss

It is possible that you may suffer from both types of hearing loss. This condition is called mixed hearing loss. Mixed hearing loss can be helped with surgery and a hearing aid.