There are 3 type of hearing loss depending where on the auditory pathway the hearing loss occurs. Conductive, sensorineural or mixed.

Conductive loss occurs when the outer or middle ear cannot conduct sound properly.

Sensorineural hearing loss occurs in the cochlear or inner ear where the hair cells of the cochlea are missing or damaged. This can have a genetic cause, or can be a result of head trauma, exposure to loud noise, or something else in the environment. Sensorineural hearing loss is also a common part of the ageing process.

Mixed hearing loss is a combination of both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss. It results from problems in both the inner and the outer or middle ear.