Typically, hearing loss occurs due to a condition affecting one or more of the three main areas of the ear, the Outer ear, the Middle ear, and the Inner ear.  More rarely, hearing loss can occur due to conditions affecting the auditory nerve.  Some causes of hearing loss can be easily reversed, while others may be permanent. 

The Outer Ear:  includes excessive wax buildup, collapsed canals, or infection in the ear canal.  Debris can plug the ear canal and weaken the soundwaves attempting to enter the ear.  This is called a Conductive hearing loss, and usually results in a mild hearing loss, and is usually reversable.  Medical treatment to remove the debris may be necessary.  Occasionally people are born with very small ear canals (stenotic) or no ear canal at all.  These people could benefit from surgery or a hearing aid.

The Middle Ear: typical causes includes fluid behind the eardrum, stiffening of the bones in the middle ear (otosclerosis), a disarticulation of the bones in the middle ear, or benign mass of tissue growth in the middle ear (Cholesteotoma).  Middle ear problems also cause conductive hearing loss, as the sound cannot be conducted via the vibration of the eardrum or the bones of the middle ear.  Middle ear problems can cause a mild to moderate hearing loss.  Many middle ear problems can be successfully treated with medication or surgery.  Should treatment not be sufficient to reverse the hearing loss, or surgery not be the treatment of choice, hearing aids are a very successful option, providing the added volume needed to send the sound to the inner ear.   Medical clearance for hearing aid use is necessary.

The Inner Ear:  Typically, the natural aging process can cause a hearing loss, because the tiny hair cells that sense the sound wear out from use or the auditory nerve degenerates.  Excessive noise exposure or exposure to a very loud sudden sounds such as artillery, firecrackers, lawn mowers, chain saws, etc. can cause damage to the inner ear structures.  Certain medications can be toxic to the hair cells.  Head injuries can cause a loss of inner ear fluid, leaving little to no transmission of sound energy to the brain.  This type of hearing loss is called Sensorineural hearing loss, due to the loss of the sensory cells that transmit sound to the nerve which sends the messages on to the brain.  As a rule, sensorineural hearing loss cannot be medically reversed.  The degree of hearing loss can be mild to profound.  Hearing aids are often the choice to improve hearing.

Although rarely, hearing loss can be caused by damage to the auditory nerve that sends the auditory information to the brain.  Damage can occur from slow growing tumors that grow on the auditory nerve.  These tumors are called acoustic neuromas and must be removed surgically.  Hearing may not be spared.  Trauma to the skull can cause the auditory nerve to be severed.  Hearing is completely lost on the severed side and cannot be reversed.  There are implantable devices that may be a viable way of treating this type of hearing loss, but this technology is new.  A consultation with an Otologist (ear specialist) is recommended for more information on these procedures.