Posts Tagged ‘Ear’

Types of Hearing Loss

Wednesday, February 4th, 2009

There are 3 Types of Hearing Loss:

Conductive
Sensorineural
Mixed Hearing Loss

Conductive Hearing Loss:

Occurs due to loss of sound sensitivity resulting from abnormalities of the middle and/or outer ear. The auditory nerve still functions normally; the sound is just unable to reach the inner ear. This type of loss is common in children with ear infections. Once the infection is cleared up, the hearing is restored. This type of loss can usually be treated with medication or simple surgery.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss:

The most common type of hearing loss can result from abnormalities of the inner ear and/or nerve paths to the brain. Both the auditory cells and auditory nerve are permanently damaged. This is the type of hearing loss often referred to as “nerve loss”. While there are many causes of Sensorineural Hearing Loss, it is most commonly caused by repetitive exposure to high-intensity noise or by the natural aging process. This type of loss can usually be helped with the use of hearing instruments.

Mixed Hearing Loss:

Symptoms of both Conductive and Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

More information: www.rechargeablehearingaid.com

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How Hearing Works

Friday, January 30th, 2009

The Outer Ear:

The part of the outer ear that we see is called the pinna, or auricle. The pinna provides a natural boost for sounds in the 2000 to 3000 Hz frequency range. The ear canal, also called the external auditory meatus, is the other important outer ear landmark. The ear canal is lined with only a few layers of skin and it is a highly vascularized area. This means that there is an abundant flow of blood to the ear canal.

The Middle Ear:

The eardrum, or tympanic membrane (abbreviated TM) is the dividing line between the outer and middle ears. The ossicles are the three tiny bones of the middle ear that are fully developed at birth. They serve as a mechanical link between the tympanic membrane and the inner ear. The eustachian tube is the middle ear’s air pressure equalizing system. The middle ear is encased in bone and does not communicate with the outside atmosphere except through the eustachian tube.

The Inner Ear:

The inner ear is a series of channels and chambers embedded deep within the temporal bone. The inner ear is called the cochlea. The cochlea transduces (changes from one form to another) the mechanical stimulus of sound, via the tympanic membrane and the ossicular chain, into a sequence of electrical discharges that is the language of the auditory nervous system.

More information: www.rechargeablehearingaid.com

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