# Are there different types of hearing?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-different-types-of-hearing/236282>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 25, 2004, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-different-types-of-hearing/236282 "2004-03-25T04:40:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2004, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-different-types-of-hearing/236282/1 "2004-03-25T04:40:17Z")

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I know that vision problems can be categorized as nearsighted, farsighted, etc., and that each problem handicaps different aspects of a person’s vision. Is the same true of hearing?

I ask because I’ve noticed lately that sometimes I have trouble making out what people are saying. This happens most often when there is other noise in the room. OTOH, when my house is quiet, I can hear the clock ticking in the bathroom three rooms away. Am I having a certain type of hearing problem, or am I just easily distracted by background noise?

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2004, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-different-types-of-hearing/236282/2 "2004-03-25T04:42:55Z")

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Do you mean [different types of hearing loss](http://yourmedicalsource.com/library/hearingloss/HL_types.html)?

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**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2004, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-different-types-of-hearing/236282/3 "2004-03-25T05:00:18Z")

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Thanks for the site, but I’m still confused. That site suggests that “Central Hearing Loss” is my problem, but the only aspect of it that rings a bell is “Problems “hearing” when there are several conversations going on.” I can read and listen to music, watch TV, etc. Hmmm.