Watch this video of Dr. N.S. Thirumaran, Senior Consultant - ENT to learn about the various types of hearing loss. Understand each type of hearing loss including conductive, sensorineural and mixed. Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound waves can't reach the inner ear due to problems in the outer or middle ear, like earwax build-up, ear infections, or issues with the eardrum or ossicles. Sensorineural hearing loss happens when the inner ear's nerve cells or the auditory nerve itself is damaged. It can be caused by aging, loud noise exposure, genetics or certain medical conditions. Mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. It involves problems in both the outer, middle and the inner ear or auditory nerve, leading to hearing difficulties.