Let's take a  look at two general categories of hearing loss:

Sensorineural Hearing Loss occurs when there is damage to the inner ear of the hearing nerve. This is generally permanent and accounts for approximately 95% of all hearing losses. It cannot be treated medically but can be successfully remedied with the use of hearing aids.

Common Causes of sensorineural hearing loss may include:

• Excessive noise exposure
• Natural deterioration of the hair cells that comes with age (Prebycusis)
• Ototoxic drug therapy the use of medications that are toxic to the hearing system
• Inner ear infection
• A tumor (acoustic neuroma)

Conductive Hearing Loss occurs when sound is not being transmitted properly to the inner ear due to a "mechanical" problem. It is often the result of damage or blockage in the outer or middle ear. In most cases, conductive hearing problems can be corrected medically.

Common causes of conductive hearing loss may include:

• Wax accumulation in the ear canal
• Ear infection causing inflammation or fluid build-up
• Trauma to the eardrum or ossicles
• Otosclerosis fixation of the ossicles

For more information about hearing loss, visit the Royal National Institute of the Deaf website at http://www.rnid.org.uk.