While considering hearing loss it is always best to find out the various types and the causes for such impairment. Whether you are born deaf or developed it over time, this defect can affect one or both ears. One such type is bilateral hearing loss causing reduction of hearing in both the ears. Before we examine the causes for bilateral hearing loss, it is significant to go into the types of hearing loss are common – sensor neural, conducive and mixed hearing loss. In conductive hearing loss sounds do not travel through to the ear drum in an effective manner. This results in the reduction of sound and can be overcome with or without surgery. It may be a result of something as big as a benign tumor or as minor as a ball of ear wax.
Sensor Neural type of hearing loss is caused when damage has occurred to the auditory section of the brain. This loss of hearing cannot be restored either by surgery or hearing aid. The factors responsible for sensor neural hearing loss are many including a virus, birth defect, exposure to loud noise over a long period of time or drug abuse. Finally mixed hearing loss is the result of both conducive and sensor neural hearing loss. Hence bilateral hearing loss is caused by one of the three types of hearing loss.
Treatment for Hearing Loss
Diminished hearing loss in bilateral hearing loss can be corrected through surgical treatment as well as hearing aids. But this treatment and its efficacy largely depend upon the extent of the damage and the type. Incase of total destruction of sound level hearing aid will be of no avail. In the even of slight hearing loss, hearing aids will be beneficial by increasing the ear s ability to catch faint or distant sounds. Irrespective of the cause, consult your physician or audiologist for the best solution of your hearing loss. These are the ones that will accurately diagnose the hearing tests.
[tags]Unilateral Loss, Bilateral Loss[/tags]