Parts of the Ear & Hearing Loss Types

The ear is made up of three parts:

  • the outer ear
  • the middle ear
  • the inner ear

Knowing how the ear works is important for understanding hearing loss. Hearing loss can be divided into three types depending on which part of the ear is affected.

Types of Hearing Losses -Houri Hearing Center UAE

The auricle (pinna) is the visible portion of the outer ear. It collects sound waves and channels them into the external auditory meatus (ear canal) where the sound is amplified. The sound waves then travel toward a flexible, oval membrane called the tympanic membrane (eardrum). The tympanic membrane begins to vibrate.

The vibrations from the eardrum set the ossicles into motion. The ossicles are 3 tiny bones (smallest in the human body): malleus (hammer), incus (anvil) and stapes (stirrup) which further amplify the sound.The stapes attaches to the oval window that connects the middle ear to the inner ear. The Eustachian tube, which opens into the middle ear, is responsible for equalizing the pressure between the air outside the ear to that within the middle ear.

The sound waves enter the inner ear and then into the cochlea, a snail shaped organ. The cochlea is filled with a fluid that moves in response to the vibrations from the oval window. As the fluid moves, 25,000 nerve endings are set into motion. These nerve endings transform the vibrations into electrical impulses that then travel along the VIII cranial nerve (auditory nerve) to the brain. The brain then interprets these signals. The inner ear also contains the vestibular organ that is responsible for balance.
Types of Hearing Losses -Houri Hearing Center UAE
Types of Hearing Losses -Houri Hearing Center UAE
Types of Hearing Losses -Houri Hearing Center UAE
Types of Hearing Losses -Houri Hearing Center UAE

Types of Hearing Loss

The three main types of hearing loss describe the underlying cause of the hearing loss and include sensorineural hearing loss, conductive hearing loss and mixed hearing loss.

The most common type of hearing loss is known as sensorineural hearing loss. It is a permanent hearing loss that occurs when there is damage to either the tiny hair-like cells of the inner ear or the auditory nerve itself, which prevents or weakens the transfer of nerve signals to the brain. These blocked nerve signals carry information about the loudness and clarity of sounds.

A less common type of hearing loss is conductive hearing loss, which occurs when there is an obstruction or damage to the outer or middle ear that prevents sound from being conducted to the inner ear. Conductive hearing loss may be temporary or permanent, depending on the cause.

The sound waves enter the inner ear and then into the cochlea, a snail shaped organ. The cochlea is filled with a fluid that moves in response to the vibrations from the oval window. As the fluid moves, 25,000 nerve endings are set into motion. These nerve endings transform the vibrations into electrical impulses that then travel along the VIII cranial nerve (auditory nerve) to the brain. The brain then interprets these signals. The inner ear also contains the vestibular organ that is responsible for balance.