sensorineural deafness

A sensorineural hearing loss is caused by damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve. A mixed hearing loss is diagnosed when an individual has both a conductive and a sensorineural hearing loss. Cortical deafness is caused by damage to the auditory cortex of the…

In nerve deafness, some defect in the sensory cells of the inner ear (e.g., their injury by excessive noise) or in the vestibulocochlear nerve prevents transmission of sound impulses from the inner ear to the auditory centre in the brain. Deafness at birth is nearly always…

…is amenable to surgery, and sensorineural impairment, which affects the inner ear and the cochlear nerve and for which surgery usually is not indicated.

…test the presence of a sensorineural impairment is indicated when the individual being tested cannot hear the bone-conducted sound as long as the examiner with normal hearing can. The individual with a conductive hearing loss, however, can hear the fork for a longer period of time than the examiner because…

In such cases of sensorineural impairment, surgery is seldom capable of improving hearing, but a hearing aid may be helpful.

Profound sensorineural deafness can occur as a result of viral or other infection, including mumps, measles, and meningitis. Rubella (German measles) in the mother during pregnancy can cause severe damage to the organ of Corti, resulting in profound hearing impairment in the child. Cochlear abnormalities may…