Sensorineural deafness
Sensorineural Deafness
Sensorineural deafness (pronunciation: sen-so-ri-neu-ral deaf-ness) is a type of hearing loss that occurs due to damage to the inner ear (cochlea) or the nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain.
Etymology
The term "sensorineural" is derived from "sensory" and "neural," referring to the sensory and neural components of the auditory system that are typically affected in this condition. "Deafness" comes from the Old English word "deaf," which means lacking the power of hearing.
Definition
Sensorineural deafness is characterized by the inability to hear or a significant loss of hearing due to damage to the inner ear or the nerve pathways that carry sound from the inner ear to the brain. This damage can be caused by several factors, including aging, exposure to loud noise, certain medications, and some diseases.
Causes
The most common causes of sensorineural deafness include:
- Aging (presbycusis)
- Exposure to loud noise (noise-induced hearing loss)
- Certain medications (ototoxicity)
- Diseases such as meningitis, mumps, measles, and autoimmune diseases
- Genetic disorders such as Usher syndrome and Alport syndrome
Symptoms
Symptoms of sensorineural deafness can vary depending on the severity of the hearing loss, but they often include:
- Difficulty hearing conversations, especially in noisy environments
- Trouble hearing high-pitched sounds
- Difficulty understanding speech
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Treatment
While sensorineural deafness is usually permanent, treatments can help improve the quality of life for those affected. These may include:
- Hearing aids
- Cochlear implants
- Assistive listening devices
- Speech reading and lip reading
- Sign language
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sensorineural deafness
- Wikipedia's article - Sensorineural deafness
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