Conductive deafness - Sounds have difficulty passing through the three tiny bones in the middle ear. These are called the malleus (hammer bone), the incus (anvil bone) and the stapes (stirrup bone). Sounds are unable to reach the inner ear.

A common cause of conductive deafness is the failure of the eardrum to vibrate in response to sound waves. A build-up of fluid in the ear canal, (Glue ear) for example, could dampen the movement of the eardrum. In many cases, treatment is available for conductive deafness and normal hearing will return.

Sensorineural deafness - This cause of deafness is in the cochlea or hearing nerve. Nerve deafness is caused by disease, trauma or some other disruptive event targeting the cochlear nerve. The rest of the ear - including the tiny bones and eardrum - may be working, but the electrical impulses aren’t able to reach the brain. Sometimes the problem can be in the brain itself.  It is unable to translate the messages from the cochlear nerve. Most cases of nerve deafness don’t respond to treatment.

Various Causes of Deafness