Sensorineural Hearing Loss Causes

• age-related hearing loss
• acoustic trauma (loud noise) to the hair cells in the ear
• viral infections in the inner ear
• certain drugs affect the hair cell in the ears
• Meniere's Disease
• Acoustic neuroma (a benign non-cancerous tumor of the auditory nerve)
• Meningitis (infection of the coverings of the brain)
• Encephalitis (infection in the brain)

Conductive Hearing Loss

• middle ear infections
• collection of fluid in the middle ear
• blockage of the outer ear (by wax)
• damage to the eardrum by infection or trauma
• otosclerosis, a condition in which the ossicles of the middle ear become immobile because of growth of the surrounding bone
• rarely, rheumatoid arthritis affects the joints between the ossicles

Tinnitus – Hearing Loss May Not Be Silent …….

• persistent (often or all the time) ringing, roaring, clicking, or hissing sound
• 12 million Americans have Tinnitus
• should be evaluated by a Dr.
• smoking, alcohol and loud noise can make it worse
• use earplugs whenever exposed to noise to prevent further damage