Degrees of hearing loss describe how severe hearing loss is, from mild to profound, based on the quietest sounds you can hear during a hearing test. These levels are measured in dB HL (decibels hearing level) and help explain what your results mean in everyday life. Understanding these degrees can make hearing test results easier to interpret and less overwhelming.

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a type of hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea or the auditory nerve. Historically, it was also called “nerve hearing loss” or even “nerve deafness,”. it affects how sound signals travel from your ear to your brain.

Muffled hearing in one ear can feel like your ear is blocked, clogged, or “underwater.” When it happens suddenly, it’s natural to worry. In many cases, this one-sided muffled hearing is caused by something temporary and treatable—such as earwax buildup, congestion, fluid, or pressure changes in the ear.

Hearing loss can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re unsure what your options are. The good news is that hearing loss can often be treated or effectively managed with today’s medical care, hearing aids, hearing implants, and communication support — depending on the types and causes of hearing loss. Read on to explore today’s treatment options and learn which approaches are used for different hearing needs.

Unilateral hearing loss means reduced or absent hearing in one ear, while the other ear hears better or even normally. If the hearing loss is profound, it is also known as unilateral deafness, single-sided deafness (SSD), or one-sided deafness.

Many people notice changes in their hearing at some point in life. These changes can happen gradually or suddenly, at a young age or later in adulthood. Understanding hearing loss causes can help you make sense of what is happening and what steps you can take next.