When Words Are Heard, But Not Understood: Central Hearing Loss

When you think of hearing loss, the inability to pick up faint sounds or even loud noises comes to mind. But, what is also a type of hearing loss is the inability to understand what is being said to you. This is called central hearing loss. To understand central hearing loss, it is best to understand what part of the brain is affected, and what leads to this kind of hearing loss. Central hearing loss is caused by a problem within the central nervous system in the brain. The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord, and controls all of our vital mechanisms such as breathing and walking. When the part of the central nervous system that controls auditory senses is damaged, it can result in central hearing loss. Although the person suffering from this type of brain impairment can hear sounds, noises and words, their ability to properly interpret them is skewed.

The Affects

Although it is not, central hearing loss can be misinterpreted as a learning disorder, or a form of actual hearing loss. This misconception is called central auditory processing disorder, a disorder in which people think they cannot hear but actually can hear just fine. It is a matter of interpretation that leads to this. If someone is suffering from this particular sub-disorder of central hearing loss, then they are unable to filter out distractions when they are attempting to concentrate. They can mix, confuse or misinterpret words or sounds that are directed at them.

Treatment for Central Hearing Loss

Although there is no known cure for central hearing loss, the best way to control this, as well as the central auditory processing disorder is to manipulate the environment in a way that will allow the person to understand what others are saying, and to fully concentrate on what they are doing. In children suffering from this type of disorder, it has been proven that their grades can go from failing to passing by just keeping them in a quiet environment when they are trying to do their homework, or study. There are ways to property deal with central hearing loss, once it is diagnosed and treated properly. Although the causes of this disorder are not fully understood by researchers, enough is known that can diagnose and adult or child, and help them to fully comprehend and communicate in their life.