There are three basic categories of hearing loss: mixed, conductive, and sensorineural. Nine out of ten people who have hearing loss have sensorineural hearing loss, which is by far the more prevalent type.
When you have sensorineural hearing loss, either the stereocilia, which are the small hair cells in your inner ear, or the nerve pathways connecting your inner ear to your brain, have been damaged. Typically, both ears are affected. Once you experience sensorineural hearing loss, you will always have it. It can be light, medium, strong, or profound.
Damage to inner ear tissues or the auditory nerve results in sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). More than 90% of adult hearing loss is brought on by it. Loud noise exposure, genetics, or the normal ageing process are common causes of SNHL.
Depending on the extent of the damage, SNHL can range from minor hearing loss to total loss of hearing.
- A slight hearing loss. an audible loss of 26 to 40 dB.
- A slight hearing loss. a hearing loss of between 41 and 55 dB.
- Profound hearing loss. a hearing loss that is louder than 71 dB.
Signs of sensorineural hearing loss
Depending on the aetiology, SNHL may affect one or both ears. Without a hearing test, your symptoms might not be apparent if your SNHL develops gradually. The symptoms of abrupt SNHL will appear over the course of a few days. Many people wake up for the first time noticing sudden SNHL.
Following a sensorineural hearing loss,
- Trouble hearing noises in noisy environments, especially trouble understanding Female and child voices
- Unsteadiness or balance issues
- Difficulty hearing loud noises
- Impression that noises and conversations are muffled
- You can hear but not understand them.
- (Ringing in the ears) Tinnitus
Why does sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) occur?
These types of hearing loss often have one of two causes: acquired or congenital. Almost everyone has developed hearing loss.
Causes of sensorineural hearing loss
SNHL can be acquired or congenital, which means that it is present at birth. The following are possible SNHL causes.
Congenital Congenital hearing loss is one of the most prevalent birth defects and is present from birth. Per 1,000 births, 1 to 3 babies are affected by it.
those with congenital hearing loss develop it through genetic reasons around half the time, while those without it develop it from environmental factors the other half of the time. Genetic hearing loss has been related to more than 100 genes Trusted Source. Hearing loss can be brought on by infections as well as a lack of oxygen.
SNHL may result from exposure to sounds louder than 85 dB. Even a single encounter with loud noises like gunshots or explosions can permanently harm one's hearing.
Another name for hearing loss caused by ageing is presbycusis. In the United States, between the ages of 65 and 74, approximately one in three adults experience hearing loss. About half of people by the age of 75 have some form of hearing loss.
Hearing loss with sensorineural alterations
Acquired refers to hearing loss that appears after birth, typically later in life. Some causes include:
Presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss, affects one in three Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 and is one of the most frequent disorders of ageing. It might be challenging to identify this type of loss because it often affects both ears over time.
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) can be brought on by prolonged exposure to sounds greater than 85 decibels (dB), such as those produced by gunfire or explosions. Your hearing health is in danger if you have to yell to be heard or if your ears ring after going to a live concert or sporting event.
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Infections and disorders:
Viral infections, such as the measles, meningitis, and mumps, can result in sensorineural hearing loss. The same is true for autoimmune diseases like thyroiditis and lupus.
A hit to the head or exposure to excessively loud noise, such as an explosion, can also harm your inner ear. Due to their exposure to guns, artillery, and jet engines, many veterans have sensorineural hearing loss.
Acoustic neuromas, which are abnormal skin growths in the middle ear, and cholesteatomas are two examples of common tumours that can impair hearing.
More than 200 pharmaceuticals and substances are ototoxic, or bad for your hearing. certain of those with a history of causing persistent harm include certain antibiotics, anti-inflammatory meds, and chemotherapy drugs for cancer.
Birth defect of the sensorineural hearing
Pregnancy is when congenital sensorineural hearing loss occurs. It is far less common. Prematurity, maternal hyperglycemia, anoxia before birth, genetics, and viral disorders like rubella that are transmitted from mother to kid in utero are a few of the causes.
Some newborns with hearing loss are now quickly identified and treated with hearing aids or cochlear implants to aid with language development, thanks to newborn screening.
What about an unexpected loss of sensorineural hearing?
Acquired sensorineural hearing loss typically develops gradually. However, it is extremely uncommon for someone to experience acute sensorineural hearing loss, which results in sudden deafness in one ear. It's crucial to get medical attention as soon as possible if this occurs to you.
How does it impact your hearing?
The loudness and clarity of the sounds you hear are both impacted by sensorineural hearing loss. Additionally, you could hear less of the noises that you find relaxing. Meaning that while regular, quiet sounds are too soft, loud noises quickly become intolerably loud and can cause serious annoyance. (Audiological terminology refers to this as "recruitment").
All hearing ranges can be impacted by sensorineural hearing loss. However, high-frequency hearing loss, which reduces the capacity to perceive high-pitched noises, is frequently experienced by people with age-related hearing loss.
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