Hearing loss happens when there is a problem with one or more parts of the ears. You may not be able to hear at all or you may be able to hear some sounds. Hearing loss is common and can b e short-term. Sometimes, it improves and other times it will not. You may be able to hear in one ear and not the other. You may have been able to hear well in your life and it has gotten worse as you have gotten older. Your ear is made of 3 parts and they all are needed for good hearing. The outer part of your ear picks up sound waves and moves them through the ear canal. Your middle ear starts with the eardrum. It vibrates when the sound waves hit it. The eardrum moves 3 tiny bones in your middle ear. They move the sound vibrations into your inner ear. The inner ear has a small liquid-filled part that is lined with tiny hairs. It is the cochlea. The vibrations make the hairs move. This sends information to the nerves and finally your brain "hears" the sounds. You may have hearing loss if any of the parts of your ear are damaged. There are a few types of hearing loss: Conductive hearing loss − Due to problems with the ear canal, eardrum, or middle ear and its little bones Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) − Due to problems with the inner ear Mixed hearing loss − A combination of both types. It can involve all parts of the ear.
