Sound is actually pressure waves. The outer ear collects sound waves and channels them down the ear canal, where they cause the ear drum to vibrate. This in turn causes the middle ear bones (collectively called the ossicles; or individually known as the hammer, anvil and stirrup) to move, increasing and amplifying the vibrations and transmitting them to the inner ear (the cochlea). The inner ear resembles a snail shell containing fluid. The vibrations cause the fluid to move, setting tiny hearing nerves (hair cells) in motion. An electrical signal is then sent along the auditory nerve which the brain translates into the sounds you hear.
There are two main types of hearing loss: Sensorineural Hearing Loss Also known as nerve deafness, this type of hearing loss involves the deterioration of the inner ear. The tiny hairs that line the ear passage, and which carry sound, have been damaged. This type of hearing loss is most commonly caused by prolonged exposure to high volume levels and the normal aging process. Sensorineural hearing loss cannot be treated with medication or surgery. Hearing instruments are the best way to treat sensorineural hearing loss.
Conductive Hearing Loss This type of hearing loss occurs when the inner ear does not properly receive sound vibrations from the middle ear because of a blockage or malfunction of the middle ear bones. Conductive hearing loss can best be treated through medication and/or surgery. If surgery or medication is not an option for you, hearing instruments can be an excellent solution to this type hearing problem, too.
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