Not all hearing loss is the same. The type and cause of your hearing loss determines the best treatment option. This guide explains the three main types of hearing loss and what can be done about each in Pakistan.
The 3 Types of Hearing Loss
1. Sensorineural Hearing Loss
The most common type, accounting for about 90% of adult hearing loss cases. It occurs when the hair cells in the cochlea (inner ear) or the auditory nerve are damaged. Once these hair cells are gone, they do not regenerate. Sensorineural hearing loss is permanent but treatable with hearing aids or cochlear implants.
- Causes: ageing, noise exposure, genetic factors, infections, certain medications, head injuries
- Characteristics: difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds; voices sound muffled
- Treatment: Hearing aids (mild–severe), cochlear implant (severe–profound)
2. Conductive Hearing Loss
Occurs when sound cannot travel efficiently through the outer or middle ear to the inner ear. This type of hearing loss is often temporary and can frequently be treated medically or surgically.
- Causes: earwax blockage, ear infections (otitis media), fluid behind eardrum, perforated eardrum, otosclerosis
- Characteristics: sounds seem faint; own voice sounds different; often affects one ear
- Treatment: earwax removal, antibiotics for infection, surgery (myringoplasty, ossiculoplasty), hearing aids
3. Mixed Hearing Loss
A combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss. For example, a patient may have age-related inner ear damage plus a middle ear infection. Treatment addresses both components.
Degrees of Hearing Loss
| Degree | Threshold (dB) | What This Means |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | 0 – 25 dB | Can hear whispers and all speech sounds |
| Mild | 26 – 40 dB | Misses soft speech; struggles in noise |
| Moderate | 41 – 55 dB | Struggles with normal conversation |
| Moderately Severe | 56 – 70 dB | Hears loud speech only |
| Severe | 71 – 90 dB | Hears only shouted speech |
| Profound | 91+ dB | May not hear speech at all |
Hearing Loss in Pakistan: Key Facts
- Hearing loss is the most common sensory disability in Pakistan
- Consanguineous marriages increase the risk of genetic hearing loss in Pakistan
- Noise-induced hearing loss is common due to traffic, industry, and loud music
- Many cases go undetected for years due to lack of awareness
- Only 1 in 10 people who could benefit from hearing aids actually uses one
A comprehensive hearing test takes just 45 minutes and is completely painless. It tells you exactly what type and degree of hearing loss you have — and what can be done about it.
Hearing Loss Types and Treatment in Rawalpindi — Local Expertise
Ideal Hearing Care Center in Satellite Town, Rawalpindi diagnoses all three types of hearing loss — sensorineural, conductive, and mixed — using the full audiometric test battery. Patients from Saddar, Bahria Town, Faizabad, Raja Bazar, Saidpur Road, Cantt, and Islamabad visit us for PTA test, tympanometry, and audiometry Rawalpindi services. Samaat ki kami (hearing loss) of any degree and type can be evaluated and managed at our clinic near Holy Family Hospital.
Sensorineural vs Conductive Hearing Loss — Understanding Your Diagnosis
After your PTA test and audiogram, your audiologist will explain whether your samaat ki kami is sensorineural (permanent, treated with kaan ki machine / hearing aids or cochlear implant) or conductive (often reversible with ENT treatment). Mixed hearing loss requires both components to be addressed. Real Ear Measurement (REM) ensures that hearing aids are programmed precisely for your specific audiogram — whatever the type or degree of loss.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hearing Loss Types, Causes, and Treatment in Pakistan
What is the most common type of hearing loss in Pakistan?
Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type in Pakistan — accounting for approximately 90% of adult hearing loss cases. It is caused by damage to the hair cells in the cochlea (inner ear) or the auditory nerve, and is permanent. It is most commonly caused by ageing (presbycusis), noise exposure, genetic factors, and certain infections. It is treated with properly fitted hearing aids (kaan ki machine) or, in severe-profound cases, cochlear implants.
Can conductive hearing loss be cured in Pakistan?
Yes, many causes of conductive hearing loss are treatable. Earwax blockage is removed by an ENT or audiologist. Middle ear infections (otitis media) are treated with antibiotics. Eardrum perforations can be repaired surgically (myringoplasty). Otosclerosis can be treated with a surgical procedure (stapedectomy). For cases where medical treatment is insufficient or not desired, hearing aids can effectively compensate for conductive loss.
What is a PTA test and how is it done in Rawalpindi?
Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA) is the standard hearing test that measures your hearing threshold at different frequencies. You sit in a calibrated soundproof booth wearing headphones and press a button each time you hear a tone — even if very faint. Both ears are tested separately, using both air conduction (headphones) and bone conduction (a vibrator behind the ear). The result is an audiogram showing the type and degree of your samaat ki kami. At Ideal Hearing Care Center in Rawalpindi, this takes approximately 20–30 minutes.
Is noise-induced hearing loss common in Rawalpindi and Pakistan?
Yes. Noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss is increasingly common in Pakistan due to high traffic noise, industrial settings, use of heavy machinery, loud music, and firecracker exposure. It typically affects high-frequency hearing first and is permanent — but completely preventable. Early audiometry testing can detect noise-induced loss before it becomes severe, allowing protective measures to be taken.
At what hearing loss degree should I start wearing a hearing aid?
Hearing aids are typically recommended from mild hearing loss (26–40 dB) onwards, particularly if the loss is affecting your daily communication. Many audiologists recommend fitting even at mild loss to protect brain health and maintain auditory stimulation. The earlier you start wearing a properly fitted hearing aid, the better your brain adapts to the amplification. At Ideal Hearing Care Center, our audiologists assess your specific situation and recommend the optimal time to begin.
Visit Ideal Hearing Care Center — Rawalpindi & Islamabad's Most Trusted Audiologist
Office #1, Ground Floor, Opposite Gate #1 Holy Family Hospital, Rajput Street, E-Block Satellite Town, Rawalpindi. Serving patients from Satellite Town, Saddar, Bahria Town, Faizabad, Saidpur Road, Raja Bazar, Cantt, and all of Islamabad. Open Mon–Sat: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM. Call 051-6137199 | WhatsApp 0328-0000510.