Can a hearing aid help with peripheral hearing loss?

Answer 1

Peripheral hearing loss results from disorders or dysfunction affecting the outer ear, the middle ear, the inner ear, or the auditory nerve running from the inner ear to the lower regions of the brain, known as the brainstem. These structures together are called the peripheral auditory system. The central nervous system consists of the brainstem and other regions of the brain like the cerebral cortex. A common example of an outer ear disorder is an accumulation of excessive earwax (cerumen) in the external ear canal. Otitis media, commonly called an ear infection, is one type of middle ear disorder. Hearing loss due to outer ear or middle ear disorders is often minimized or corrected with medical or surgical treatment. A person with these types of hearing disorders should consult with otolaryngologist (ENT physician) or an otologist (ear surgeon) before considering a hearing aid.

Many causes of inner ear disorders result in hearing loss. Hearing due to exposure to loud sound … noise-induced hearing loss … and decreased hearing with advanced age (presbycusis) are the two most common examples of inner ear disorders. Physicians often inappropriately use the term "nerve deafness" to describe hearing problems involving the inner ear or the auditory nerve. The term is inaccurate for two reasons. Almost all of these are not deaf but, rather, hearing impaired or hard of hearing. Also, the site of dysfunction is almost always the inner ear, not the auditory nerve. A more appropriate term is "sensorineural" hearing loss that implies the disorder might be in the inner ear (sensory structure) or the auditory nerve (neural structure), or sensory hearing loss if the inner ear is the site of disorder.

Sensory hearing loss is more common that other types and almost everyone with sensory hearing loss can be helped with hearing aids. Today's hearing aids with computer programmable technology come in a variety of styles so they can be fit to just about any hearing loss. Hearing aids amplify soft inaudible sound but they don't correct hearing loss. Nonetheless, with properly fit hearing aids a person with a sensory type hearing loss will hearing speech much easier and will communicate more effectively.

Auditory nerve disorders are rare. They typically occur on one side (unilateral), whereas most forms of inner ear disorders are associated with hearing loss in both ears (bilateral). Although auditory nerve disorders are unusual, early detection and proper management are important because the cause may be a tumor located in a tight region near the brain.

Children or adults with suspected hearing loss should consult with an audiologist or a medical specialist known as an otolaryngologist (ENT physician). Audiologists perform a variety of tests to verify that a hearing loss is present and then to describe the hearing loss including the site of dysfunction in the auditory system and how much the hearing loss is impacting communication.