Approximately 31.5 million Americans suffer from hearing loss (according to the Better Hearing Institute). This means that hearing loss affects 10 percent of the U.S. population. Here are the three types of hearing loss:

Conductive Hearing Loss

This is a condition that blocks the delivery of sound through the middle ear.  Examples of this type of hearing loss can include otitis media (fluid behind the eardrum), perforation or the eardrum, otosclerosis or cholesteatoma.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

With this condition part of the inner ear is damaged.  A few examples that cause sensorineural hearing loss can include exposure to loud noise, age, or toxic drugs or medications.

Mixed Hearing loss

This is a combination of conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss.