Sensorineural hearing loss

Sensorineural hearing loss is hearing impairment due to damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve that carries sound to the brain. For those affected, it is difficult to determine where the sound is coming from, it can affect one or both ears and the severity can vary. It is a relatively common condition that can affect up to 5% of the world`s population.

Sensorineural hearing loss may originate in the inner ear or in the auditory nerve. The main cause is damage to the hair cells of the cochlea resulting in reduced perception of sound intensity and quality. The origin of this deterioration is not entirely clear, although there are identified risk factors such as the following:

• Age: aging is the most important factor.
• Abnormal development of the ear in the stages of gestation.
• Trauma.
• Exposure to loud noises.
• Past illnesses such as meningitis.
• Use of ototoxic drugs, such as antimalarials, acetylsalicylic acid, some diuretics or beta-blockers, among others.

The most obvious symptom of sensorineural hearing loss is hearing loss, so the affected person may have trouble understanding speech, making it difficult to follow a conversation. In addition, if this hearing loss is suffered in only one ear, it can cause problems to locate where sounds come from or to hear background noise.

Other symptoms that can be common are the sensation of dizziness, vertigo and loss of balance. In addition, tinnitus, a perception of noise without an external source, may also occur.

There are no effective measures to avoid the development of sensorineural hearing loss, although there are actions that can be taken, such as avoiding exposure to high sound levels, protecting the ear when exposure is unavoidable. In addition, it is also advisable to dry the ear properly after bathing and to avoid the use of cotton swabs, in order to minimize the risk of infection.