The 4 Types of Hearing Loss- Dr. Barrett Explains

Hearing loss isn’t always as simple as whether you can hear or not—and understanding where the problem is occurring can make a major difference in how it’s treated. In this video, Dr. Barrett of Hearing and Balance Doctors explains the four major types of hearing loss: sensorineural, conductive, mixed, and central auditory processing disorders. He breaks down what happens as our hearing naturally changes with age, how factors like genetics, noise exposure, earwax, fluid in the middle ear, and overall health can affect hearing, and why sometimes the problem isn’t with the ears at all—it’s with how the brain processes sound. Dr. Barrett also explains how comprehensive hearing testing can help pinpoint where along the auditory system a problem is occurring and why establishing a hearing baseline now can be so valuable for recognizing changes in the future. Whether you’ve noticed a change in your hearing or simply want to better understand how hearing works, this is a great introduction to the different ways hearing loss can occur—and why knowing what type you have is an important first step.