Understanding Hearing Impairment vs Deafness

A child with hearing loss can generally respond to visual stimuli, including speech.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss is caused by something that stops sounds from getting through the outer or middle ear.

Mixed Hearing Loss includes both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss.

Individuals with Severe Hearing Loss will hear almost no speech when someone is talking at a normal level.

Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder occurs when sound enters the ear normally, but due to damage to the inner ear, sound isn’t organized in a way the brain can understand.

A child with hearing loss can generally respond to visual stimuli, including speech.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss is caused by a problem in the way the inner ear or hearing nerve works.

Conductive Hearing Loss can only be treated with medicine or surgery.

Mixed Hearing Loss includes sensorineural and auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder.

Individuals with Severe Hearing Loss will hear almost no speech when someone is talking at a normal level.

Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder occurs when sound enters the ear normally.

Individuals with Profound Hearing Loss will not hear any speech at a normal level.

Moderate Hearing Loss means a person hears almost no speech when someone is talking at a normal level.

Mild Hearing Loss makes soft sounds hard to hear but speech sounds are clear.

Severe Hearing Loss allows a person to hear some loud sounds clearly.