A mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, meaning there's damage in both the outer or middle ear and the inner ear or the nerve pathways to the brain.
Essentially, it means sound isn't being conducted efficiently through the outer and middle ear and the inner ear is also damaged, preventing proper signal transmission to the brain. This creates a more complex hearing problem compared to either conductive or sensorineural loss alone.
Here's a breakdown:
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Conductive Hearing Loss: This occurs when sound waves can't effectively travel through the outer and middle ear. Possible causes include earwax blockage, middle ear infections (otitis media), or problems with the small bones (ossicles) in the middle ear.
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Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL): This arises from damage to the inner ear (cochlea) or the auditory nerve pathways that transmit sound signals to the brain. Common causes include aging, exposure to loud noises, genetic factors, and certain medications.
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Mixed Hearing Loss: This type combines elements of both conductive and sensorineural loss. For example, someone with age-related hearing loss (sensorineural) might also develop a middle ear infection (conductive), resulting in a mixed hearing loss. The damage affecting the outer/middle and inner ear happens simultaneously.
In summary, a mixed hearing loss is a complex hearing impairment involving problems in both the sound conduction pathway (outer and middle ear) and the sensory or neural pathway (inner ear and auditory nerve).
