By James M. O’Day, Au.D.

CONDUCTIVE SENSORINEURAL MIXED

In general it can be described as a physical blockage of sound getting to the inner ear

This blockage occurs in either the outer ear canal or the middle ear or both areas.

Is damage to the cochlea (inner ear) and/or the 8th, where sound reaching the cochlea or 8th nerve is not processed properly.

Cochlea

 A sensorineural hearing loss can be due to exposure to loud noise, aging, injury, disease, toxic drugs and chemicals, inherited conditions, or any combination of the above.

Is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss

In general, conductive hearing loss is treatable by medicine or surgery, whereas, sensorineural hearing loss is treatable by hearing aids. Mixed hearing loss may need a combination.

 People with hearing loss are more likely to report symptoms of depression, dissatisfaction with life, reduced functional health, and withdrawal from social activities.

 Although most people with hearing loss can be helped with hearing aids, 4 out of 5 Americans with hearing loss do not use a hearing aid.

In a study of 350 newborn baby girls and boys, it was found that the girls’ hearing was substantially more sensitive than the boys, especially in the 1 kHz – to – 4 kHz range, which is very important for speech discrimination.

Demonstrating that the anatomy of the inner ear is significantly different between the sexes: girls are born with a cochlea which is shorter and stiffer than boys’. The shorter, stiffer cochlea provides a more sensitive frequency response.

This cochlea difference may help explain the differences between the two genders in language acquisition. For example, the average 18 month old girl has a vocabulary of about 90 words, compared to just 40 words for the average 18 month old boy.

Although men were far more likely to have hearing deficits than were women, men underestimate their hearing difficulties compared to women, “ men don’t hear as well as women do, but most men are blissfully unaware of the fact”.

There are three different senses that work together to give us balance.

Composed of the three semicircular canals, utricle, and saccule, which when working correctly give us both the sensation of acceleration and gravity.

The vestibular ocular reflex allows us to focus during movement.

Sense of touch, temperature, proprioception and pain. Proprioception is that portion of somatosensory that contributes to balance. It refers to your ability to perceive body position in your environment.

Aging Viruses Injury Toxic chemicals/medications Genetics Any combination of this list

BPPV represents 50% of all vertigo patients. BPPV is easily treatable with a head reposition maneuver.

Patients in the acute stage of their balance disorder need to be treated by either medication or surgery.

Most uncompensated vestibular lesions (non-acute stage) can be helped with physical therapy, either by adaptation or substitution techniques.

Even stable CNS lesion patients can benefit from physical therapy.

BPPV women to men ratio; 1.6 : 1

Migraine sufferers, 22 out of 100 individuals, have a 3 : 1 female prevalence

Meniere’s disease, which occurs in 3 to 20 out of 10,000 patients is more prevalent in females than in men.

Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease, which is when the ear becomes allergic to itself, has a significant female bias with the onset of middle age.

Mal de Debarquement syndrome, which is disembarkment sickness, has a significant female gender bias.

Who is fit with hearing aids?

Potentially anyone with hearing loss that is sensorineural or is not correctable by medicine or surgery.

Get a diagnostic hearing test by an Audiologist

Depending on those results, you may also need to visit your PCP or an Ear, Nose, Throat doctor.

Review with your Audiologist what styles and range of prices are appropriate for your situation.

CIC ITC Low Profile Full ITE BTE Open Fit BTE Ric BTE

Pricing Who pays for them? 30 day trial period

Are there any questions? Appointment: