Mixed hearing

Mixed hearing loss can be further categorised using specific medical terms that refine the diagnosis:

• Unilateral Mixed Hearing Loss: When the condition affects only one side of the patient.
• Bilateral Mixed Hearing Loss: When the condition affects both sides.

The severity of mixed hearing loss can range from mild to profound. This variation can be further described as:

• Symmetrical: When the severity of hearing loss is the same in both ears.
• Asymmetrical: When the severity differs between the ears.

Additionally, mixed hearing loss can be categorised by the frequencies most affected:

• High-Frequency Hearing Loss: Difficulty in distinguishing higher-pitched sounds, such as children's voices or birds singing.
• Low-Frequency Hearing Loss: Difficulty in hearing lower-pitched sounds, such as thunder or dogs barking.

Mixed hearing loss results from a combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss, so any factors causing these conditions can lead to mixed hearing loss. Key causes include:

• Aging (Presbycusis): The leading cause of hearing loss, associated with the natural aging process.
• Illness: Conditions such as heart disease, dementia, thyroid disorders, or Meniere's Disease can contribute to tinnitus and hearing loss.
• Drugs: Ototoxic medications, including certain antibiotics, anticancer drugs, and anti-inflammatory drugs, can cause hearing loss symptoms.
• Head or Ear Trauma: Injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, perforated eardrums, or other damage to the middle ear can result in hearing loss.
• Buildup of Earwax: Excess earwax can block the ear canal, preventing sound waves from being conducted effectively.
• Fluid in the Middle Ear: Allergies, infections, or congestion can cause fluid to accumulate behind the eardrum, obstructing the auditory tube and leading to hearing loss.

Given that these symptoms overlap with various types of hearing loss, pinpointing the exact cause can be challenging. A hearing specialist from Amplifon can assess your symptoms and provide a tailored solution to treat your mixed hearing loss.

The most common method to diagnose mixed hearing loss involves an audiometric hearing evaluation, combined with an examination of the ears, nose, throat, and neck, along with a detailed patient history. The physical examination helps the hearing care specialist identify potential physiological issues, while audiometry assesses the severity of hearing loss.

An audiometric evaluation is performed by a hearing specialist using a device called an audiometer. The results of this test, known as an audiogram, are interpreted by the specialist to determine the type and extent of hearing loss.

A mixed hearing loss audiogram will highlight the various factors affecting your hearing. For example, a person might experience both age-related hearing loss and an excessive build-up of earwax, resulting in mixed hearing loss. Your audiologist will review the results with you to explain the causes of your hearing loss and discuss the next steps for treatment.

The otolaryngologist is the doctor of reference to turn to when a mixed hearing loss is suspected. He or she will carry out a number of examinations, including audiometric tests, to better understand the nature of the hearing loss, whether transmissive and/or sensorineural, and to set up the most appropriate therapy.

Usually, in cases of mixed hearing loss, the use of a hearing solution is indispensable. Amplifon, for over 60 years, has been the world leader in the development and customisation of constantly innovative hearing technologies, in order to ensure that each individual can regain the joy of listening and live every aspect of his or her life satisfactorily.

The hearing care professional, after a careful assessment of your listening ability, will propose the most suitable hearing solution for your hearing needs.