Temporary reduction of hearing sensitivity as indicated by the increase of hearing threshold level occurs after exposure to loud sounds. This can become permanent if the exposure is prolonged. The louder the sound, the shorter the exposure time to produce permanent impairment. Damage is greater if the sound contains impulsive components caused by percussive elements in the source.
When your hearing is damaged by loud sounds, it is the hair cells in the 18th set, bark 18, which are damaged. This is irrespective of the nature of the sound causing the damage. As damage increases with further exposure, the next bark down is destroyed and the missing frequency band broadens, reaching in some cases down to 1kHz. At that point, understanding speech will be almost impossible.
Hearing aids and cochlear implants may alleviate some of the problems caused by hearingimpairment, but are often insufficient.
Conductivehearing loss is caused by damage/malfunction of the middle or outer ear system (external ear canal, ear drum, or structures in the middle ear space including the malleus, incus and stapes bones).
Prelingual hearingimpairment exists when the impairment is congenital or otherwise acquired before the individual has acquired speech and language, thus rendering the disadvantages more difficult to treat because the child is unable to access audible /spoken communication from the outset.
Conductivehearingimpairments are the most common type of hearing deficit found in individuals with Down syndrome.
Conductive: This type of hearingimpairment is generally due to impacted cerumen (ear wax), middle ear fluid (otitis media), and/or atresia (abnormally developed outer ear and/or ear canal).
Sensorineural Impairment: This type of hearingimpairment is a result of damage to the hair cells located in the inner ear or to the auditory nerve itself.
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