Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Sensorineural Hearing Loss Occurs, How It Is Tested for and What Treatment Is Available

When the inner ear or the auditory nerve pathways are damaged, the result is sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). While conductive hearing loss targets the outer or middle ear, sensorineural hearing loss results in damage to the parts of the ear that handle sound which is likely to result in someone losing their hearing permanently. It looks into the different factors, signs, diagnosis and ways to treat sensorineural hearing loss.

Reasons why Sensorineural Hearing Loss develops
SNHL is caused by a variety of factors which we can sort into several main categories.

Among hearing problems, age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) is one of the most frequent causes. With time, the hair cells in the cochlea start to weaken which makes it more difficult to hear high-pitched sounds.

Being exposed for a long time to things like machinery, loud concerts and loud music can damage the hair cells in the cochlea. Some degree of this type of hearing loss is usually permanent and ncreases gradually as time passes.

Some people develop sensorineural hearing loss because of genetic conditions which can appear either from the start (congenital) or later in life. Usher syndrome is one of those diseases where hearing disorders are a symptom shared with vision problems.

Mumps, measles or meningitis which are viruses, may damage the inner ear or the auditory nerve, changing the hearing to sensorineural hearing loss. Another illness, autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED), can bring about inflammation and damage to the hearing system.

Some kinds of antibacterial medications (aminoglycosides) and chemotherapy drugs (e.g., cisplatin) may be harmful to the cochlea or auditory nerve which could result in hearing loss.

Physical harm to the head or tumors such as acoustic neuromas may interfere with the auditory nerve or the inner ear which can result in hearing loss.

What You May Notice With Sensorineural Hearing Loss
How severe the damage is will decide what symptoms appear in SNHL and they may consist of:

Difficulty hearing people talk, mainly when there is loud background noise.

How sounds seem to be mumbled or fuzzy.

Noise in the ears like ringing or buzzing is tinnitus.

Problems hearing high-frequency sounds like those used in speech.

Loss of hearing that comes on slowly.

Most cases of SNHL cannot be fixed by medical treatments or surgery which makes it harder to treat.

Finding a case of Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Testing for sensorineural hearing loss is performed by an audiologist or an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist. Important ways to diagnose a heart problem are:

Pure-Tone Audiometry allows the measurement of the smallest sounds a person can detect which can show the type and amount of their hearing loss.

Speech Audiometry helps determine if a person can correctly pick up speech at various levels of loudness and helps reveal the effects of hearing loss on everyday speech.

The use of Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) looks for signs of functioning in the cochlea by playing sounds and seeing if it produces sounds in return, to detect issues in the inner ear.

The Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) test looks at brain and nerve activity while sounds are played which helps detect types of nerve-related hearing loss.

Therapies and treatments for Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Although sensorineural hearing loss does not go away, there are various ways to control the problem.

Hearing aids boost the volume of speech and other noises so people with mild to moderate hearing loss can hear them. With the help of these, people can have clearer conversations in silent surroundings.

People with severely or truly profound hearing loss might benefit from being fitted with cochlear implants. By attaching these devices, the inner ear damage can be bypassed and the auditory nerve can be stimulated which could allow someone to hear again.

Devices called Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) are helpful for those who need better hearing in meetings or crowded areas since they can be used with amplified telephones or FM systems.

Many people deal with sensorineural hearing loss which can greatly affect their ability to hear and talk. Generally, deafness cannot be cured, but quick diagnosis and early treatment like using hearing aids and cochlear implants support people to cope successfully. Having knowledge about the reasons, signs and available care for SNHL allows people affected by it to decide on their hearing health.