Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type of permanent hearing loss. It results from damage to the sensory hair cells of the cochlea or to the auditory nerve that carries signals from the cochlea to the brain. The most common causes include aging (presbycusis), noise exposure, genetic factors, viral infections, ototoxic medications, and certain autoimmune conditions.
Because the damage is within the cochlea or auditory nerve, sensorineural hearing loss is generally permanent and not correctable by surgery or medication, with the notable exception of sudden sensorineural hearing loss, which may respond to corticosteroids if treated within the first days of onset. Management typically involves hearing aids for mild to severe loss and cochlear implants for individuals with severe to profound loss who gain limited functional benefit from amplification.
Sensorineural hearing loss is distinguished from conductive hearing loss on the audiogram by comparing air conduction and bone conduction thresholds. In sensorineural loss, both thresholds are reduced equally, with no air-bone gap.
