The countless miniature nerve endings in your inner ear are central to your ability to hear. If these nerve endings (or other parts of the inner ear) are damaged, the result is often sensorineural hearing loss.
The countless miniature nerve endings in your inner ear are central to your ability to hear. If these nerve endings (or other parts of the inner ear) are damaged, the result is often sensorineural hearing loss.Typically, sensorineural hearing loss doesn’t lead to a complete inability to hear. The hearing loss is often limited to certain sounds and frequencies. Some sounds may seem too loud, while others may seem less distinct. Recognizing speech patterns becomes particularly difficult, in particular when listening in a noisy location. Tracking conversations can become difficult, particularly if several people are speaking, while men’s voices may sound sharper than women’s. Some other symptoms of sensorineural hearing loss are feelings of dizziness or tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
There is no single cause of sensorineural deafness that applies to all individuals. Sometimes this form of hearing loss is present since birth. The disorder may have an underlying genetic cause. It can also arise from certain infections which can be passed from mother to child.
Sensorineural hearing loss that starts later life can have many numerous underlying causes. Exposure to an extremely loud noise – also known as acoustic trauma – is one possible reason. The damage can also accumulate from continuous exposure to loud noises. This reason for sensorineural hearing loss is quite common among musicians or construction workers.
Sensorineural hearing loss can come on suddenly, such as in the case of viral infections. These infections include meningitis, mumps and measles. Equally problematic is Meniere’s Disease, which can lead to fluctuating hearing loss as well as vertigo and tinnitus. Both conditions can potentially be treated with corticosteroids.
Abrupt changes in air pressure and head trauma can cause sensorineural hearing loss, as can other physical issues such as tumors. Otosclerosis, a hereditary disorder in which a bony growth in the middle ear disrupts hearing, is another physical cause of this type of hearing loss.
Untreated sensorineural hearing loss often diminishes quality of life. Fortunately it can be reversed or improved in many cases.