Hearing loss can occur in either one of two ways, or a combination of both:

Conductive hearing loss:

results from diseases or disorders that limit the transmission of sound through the outer or middle ear. This hearing loss can usually be treated medically or surgically. In some cases, a hearing instrument can provide sufficient hearing improvement.

Sensorineural hearing loss:

affects the inner ear or neural pathways. In this case, sound is transmitted through the outer and middle ears, but the inner ear is less efficient in transmit¬ting the sound, usually due to damages to the fine nerve endings inside the cochlea. This leads to reduced perception of sound intensity and quality. This type of hearing loss is usually compensated with a hearing instru¬ment that amplifies sound to overcome the decrease in hearing sensitivity.

Combination hearing loss:

is the simultaneous occurrence of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, which is also referred to as mixed hearing loss. Treatment options for this type of loss include both surgery and hearing instruments.