Hearing Loss

There are three types of hearing loss: Conductive, Sensorineural and Mixed.

Conductive Hearing Loss (CHL) is hearing loss due to the inability to efficiently transfer sound to the inner ear. Some causes include:

• Otitis Media with Effusion (OME)
• Perforated ear drum
• Cholesteatoma
• Abnormal development or trauma of the middle ear structures (incus, malleus and stapes)
• Otosclerosis
• Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence

Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL) is hearing loss due to nerve loss and is either permanent or temporary. There are conditions in which hearing fluctuates. Some causes include:

• Congenital or hereditary (i.e Mondini deformity, Enlarged vestibular aqueduct)
• Aging
• Autoimmune inner ear disease
• Nerve loss secondary to meningitis
• Sudden Sensorineural hearing Loss (SSNHL)

The ear connects to the nose and after a thorough evaluation of the ear, nose and throat, Dr. Tamez will be able to differentiate between the three types of hearing loss and make recommendations accordingly. An MRI of the brain may be required if hearing loss is associated with dizziness, or if one side is worse than the other.

Possible Testing

• Audiogram
• Tympanogram
• Otoacoustic emissions (OAE)
• Auditory Evoked Brainstem Response (ABR/BAER)
• MRI brain
• Computed tomography (CT) of the temporal bone

Possible Treatments

• Tympanostomy/Myringotomy
• Pressure Equalization Tubes (PETs)
• Paper patch
• Myringoplasty
• Fat plug Myringoplasty
• Tympanoplasty (Ear drum repair)
• Mastoidectomy (Mastoid and ear drum repair)
• Tympanomastoidectomy
• Stapedectomy
• Middle ear steroid injections