Conductive hearing loss – This results from a problem with the conduction of sound from the outer ear (the part that you see) to the inner ear (where the nerve is located). Conductive hearing loss can result from ear infections, trauma to the ear, wax buildup, or other problems with the eardrum or the bones that conduct sound through the middle ear. People with this type of hearing loss have a problem with volume rather than understanding ability.

Sensorineural hearing loss – This involves a kind of deterioration of the hearing nerve or the inner ear. Aging, exposure to noise, some cancer treatments, illnesses, and other degenerative processes could cause sensorineural hearing loss. Sometimes, this type of hearing loss impairs understanding ability and causes people to be sensitive to loud sounds.

Mixed hearing loss – This type of hearing loss contains some sensorineural and conductive elements.