What is sensorineural hearing loss?

Sensorineural hearing loss (also known as SNHL) is hearing loss that results from loss or damage to the tiny hair cells in the cochlea of the inner ear. Tiny hair cells in the cochlea transmit sound from the inner ear to the brain via the auditory nerve. There are different types of sensorineural hearing loss. You can have sensorineural hearing loss in one ear (unilateral hearing loss) or in both ears (bilateral hearing loss). Sensorineural hearing loss can be a sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss can be a high-frequency hearing loss or a low-frequency hearing loss.

The difference between sensorineural hearing loss and conductive hearing loss

Sensorineural hearing loss is a type of hearing loss that differs from conductive hearing loss, in which the ability to transmit sound from the outer ear and middle ear to the inner ear is reduced or lost.

What is the cause of sensorineural hearing loss?

Sensorineural hearing loss is usually caused by:

• age increasing
• Noise
• Certain types of diseases
• genes (hereditary)
• Rubella during pregnancy
• Low birth weight
• Head/ear injuries

But sensorineural hearing loss can also be caused by other reasons.

Everyone loses some small cochlear hair cells during their lifetime. Aging is one of the main causes of sensorineural hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss caused by aging is called age-related hearing loss or presbyacusis. However, hair cells can also be damaged by excessive noise. As a result of long-term exposure to high-intensity sounds, for example from the workplace or listening to loud music, sensorineural hearing impairment becomes more common. Diseases such as mumps, meningitis, multiple sclerosis, Meniere’s disease or certain drugs such as cisplatin, quinine or streptomycin and gentamicin antibiotics can cause sensorineural hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing impairment may also occur if the mother had rubella (German rubella) during pregnancy or had a low birth weight. Sensorineural hearing loss can be inherited (genetic hearing loss) and you may eventually lose your hearing due to ear damage. If you have sensorineural hearing loss in both ears (bilateral sensorineural hearing loss) and if there is a large difference in hearing loss between the ears, it is called asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss.

What are the symptoms of sensorineural hearing loss?

Normally, sensorineural hearing loss develops gradually and slowly gets worse and worse. This hearing loss does not happen overnight unless it is a sudden sensorineural hearing loss. In this way, we often do not notice that our hearing has worsened.

Some common and classic symptoms of sensorineural hearing loss are:

• Difficulty hearing voices in places with background noise, for example at parties, restaurants, or family gatherings
• Difficulty hearing or understanding women’s or children’s voices
• Difficulty understanding speech on TV or listening to the radio
• Difficulty hearing soft or loud sounds, such as the ticking of a clock, the hum of a refrigerator, or the singing of birds

How is sensorineural hearing loss diagnosed?

Sensorineural hearing loss is diagnosed by an audiologist who examines your ears and performs a hearing test that includes a series of different tests.

Sensorineural hearing loss in audiogram

The results of the hearing test are presented in an audiogram. Sensorineural hearing loss can be shown on an audiogram. An audiogram shows the degree of hearing loss and by showing the hearing levels at different frequencies in both ears, it determines which frequencies are affected by sensorineural hearing loss.

Is sensorineural hearing loss permanent?

Yes, unfortunately sensorineural hearing loss is permanent because the hair cell in the inner ear cannot be repaired or replaced. And – regardless of whether it is a bilateral or unilateral hearing loss – the hearing does not fully or partially improve over time or on its own. Hearing that is lost is lost forever. For example, age-related hearing loss usually worsens over time.

Can sensorineural hearing loss be treated?

In most cases, unfortunately, no. Sensorineural hearing loss is usually treated with hearing aids or cochlear implants.

What types of treatments are there for sensorineural hearing loss?

People with sensorineural hearing loss cannot recover their hearing. The treatment of sensorineural hearing loss is often the use of hearing aids. People with more severe or profound sensorineural hearing loss can be treated with hearing implants such as cochlear implants. A hearing test performed by an audiologist will determine whether you have sensorineural hearing loss.

Can sensorineural hearing loss get worse?

Yes, sensorineural hearing loss can get worse. Some types of sensorineural hearing loss develop over time, such as age-related hearing loss, where people typically lose more and more of their hearing ability over time. Other types of sensorineural hearing loss are more stable. It always depends on the cause of the hearing loss.

Can children have sensorineural hearing loss?

Children may also develop sensorineural hearing loss. Hearing loss is usually caused by a genetic defect or an infection during pregnancy. In rare cases, hearing loss can be caused by noise. Learn more about hearing loss in children.

Are there other types of hearing loss?

We distinguish between two main types of hearing loss: sensorineural and conductive hearing loss, but there are other types or categories of hearing loss.