Which type of hearing loss is typically characterized by damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve?

Sensory neural hearing loss, often referred to as sensorineural hearing loss, is characterized by damage to the inner ear, specifically the cochlea, or to the auditory nerve pathways. This type of hearing loss affects the ability to hear sounds clearly and can impact the clarity of speech. It can result from various factors, including aging, exposure to loud noise, genetic predispositions, and certain medical conditions.

In sensorineural hearing loss, the inner ear's hair cells, which convert sound waves into electrical signals for the brain, may be damaged or absent. Additionally, issues with the auditory nerve can prevent these neural signals from reaching the brain effectively. This condition typically results in a permanent hearing loss that cannot be corrected medically or surgically, making it distinct from other types of hearing loss, such as conductive hearing loss, which involves problems in the outer or middle ear, and mixed hearing loss, which encompasses both conductive and sensorineural components. Functional hearing loss describes a situation where a person exhibits hearing loss that cannot be attributed to an identifiable physical cause, often relating to psychological factors, rather than actual damage to the hearing structures.