Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Sensorineural hearing loss ("nerve deafness") is when there is nerve damage to the inner ear or brain. This damage then keeps nerve impulses from reaching the auditory part of the brain. The nerve damage can occur in the brain, cochlea, or the ear's auditory nerve. This hearing loss is permanent.

Causes

There are several known causes of sensorineural deafness:

• Diseases
  Including but not limited to: chicken pox, influenza (the flu), arteriosclerosis, Meniere's disease, mononucleosis (mono), meningitis, mumps, syphilis, and Rh disease.
• Rubella (German measles)
  Many mothers who developed rubella during the first three months of pregnancy gave birth to deaf children.
• Tumors in the ear
• Concussions
• Head trauma
• Over-exposure to loud noises
• Aging
• The effects of some drugs

Treatment

Sensorineural deafness cannot be cured medically.

However, there are a few main options available that may improve hearing for people with this type of hearing loss:

• Hearing aids
• Assistive listening devices
• Cochlear implants

Related Articles:

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• The Hearing Test
  
• Ear Anatomy
  
• Types of Hearing Loss
  
• Causes of Hearing Loss
  
• Cochlear Implants
  
• Deaf Technology
  
• Interview with Dianrez
  
• Interview with Jamie Berke