What is Sensorineural Hearing Loss?

There are many different kinds of hearing loss, and one of these is sensorineural hearing loss. This type of hearing loss involves the inner ear, part of the brain, or the nerve in the ear, and can either be acquired or congenital. In other words, it is something that can happen in an accident or other problem, such as a specific disease or condition, but it can also be something that an individual is born with. When a person is born with this condition, there is little that can be done to help them hear ‘normally.’ Hearing aids can be used, however, to amplify sound so that an individual has a chance of hearing better. Cochlear implants can also be used in order to help individuals hear more clearly, as these implants stimulate the cochlear nerve in a very direct manner, which will allow the patient to be able to hear.

A Big Word for This Problem

Sensoineural is a very large word, and many people do not understand that this is just classification for a type of hearing loss. Other types of hearing loss generally come from problems with the middle or outer ear or the tympanic membrane, but sensorineural hearing loss comes from the areas that were mentioned in the previous section. There are also tests that can be done to help detect sensorineural hearing loss as opposed to conductive hearing loss, which is a different type. Since sensorineural hearing loss can be treated with hearing aids or implants, however, individuals that have this kind of hearing loss can generally lead what most would consider to be ‘normal’ lives.

Many People Do Not Understand Hearing Loss

It is unfortunate, but many people today still do not understand the significance of hearing loss, either sensorineural hearing loss or conductive hearing loss, and how much it affects the lives of the people that must deal with it. Some people that meet individuals with sensorineural hearing loss decide that they must speak loudly and slowly, or they find themselves pointing to things, writing things down, or trying other ways to make that person ‘understand’ what they are trying to say. However, individuals that have hearing aids or cochlear implants do not need this type of assistance. They can be spoken to normally, and if they need special assistance in any way, they will let others know. Remembering this will save embarrassment for many people.