Final answer:
Mixed hearing loss is the combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, where issues are present in both the outer/middle ear and the inner ear or auditory nerve. Hearing aids can help with the conductive loss, while cochlear implants may be required for sensorineural loss.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of hearing loss that is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss is known as mixed hearing loss. This kind of hearing impairment occurs when someone experiences problems in both the outer or middle ear and the inner ear (cochlea) or auditory nerve. For example, a person may have damage in the middle ear structures such as the eardrum or ossicles, leading to conductive loss, and at the same time have damage to the sensory cells or nerve fibers of the inner ear, leading to sensorineural loss. Hearing aids are often used to treat conductive components by amplifying sound. However, if the sensorineural component is also present, options like cochlear implants might be considered, especially if hearing aids are not effective. Cochlear implants bypass damaged structures in the inner ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve.