The Effect of Hearing Loss on Auditory Perception and Behavior
Three basic types of hearing loss: conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, and mixed hearing loss. These categories are according to which part of the auditory system is damaged. Conductive hearing loss happens when the sound is reduced due to problems with the outer ear canal, eardrum, or tiny bones (ossicles) in the middle ear. There is often an inability to hear faint sounds. Fluid in the middle ear, ear infections, allergies, perforated eardrum, impacted earwax, and “swimmer’s ear” are some of the most common causes of conductive hearing loss and can be corrected either medically or surgically. Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) happens when there is damage to the inner ear (cochlea), or the nerve pathways between the inner ear and the brain. This type of hearing loss is usually permanent whether it is the inability to hear faint sounds or unclear, muffled sounds. This hearing loss is often caused by genetics (hereditary), illnesses, certain types of drugs, aging, head trauma, or exposure to loud noise. There are times when there is a combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss, it is known as mixed hearing loss. According to Joseph Nadol, hearing loss is “among the most common chronic neural impairments in the U.S. population” (Nadol, 1993). Damage to the outer, middle, or inner ear or auditory nerves can be present. Auditory perception means being able to perceive and understand sounds. This is done by the human ear as it picks up vibrations and converts them to nerve impulses that are sent to the brain for interpretation. For those with hearing loss, there is an inability to complete the process due to damage to either one or a combination of the ear structures. Being able to discriminate between different sounds is