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Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss, also known as nerve deafness, accounts for 90% of adult hearing problems. Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when the hair cells in the cochlea (inner ear) become damaged and sound cannot reach the brain (where sound is processed). Once the hair cells have been damaged, they cannot be repaired, making sensorineural hearing loss permanent. Sensorineural hearing loss usually results in the overall reduction in the loudness perception of sounds and can also cause sounds to become distorted. Hearing aids can help in most cases.
Causes
| Aging |
Hearing loss caused by the natural aging process is called Presbycusis. Around the age of 60 to 65, about 30% of the population have a hearing loss that is significant enough to affect their ability to hear everyday sounds, such as speech.
The first sign of Presbycusis is usually a reduction in the ability to hear high-frequency sounds, such as s, t, k, p, t, resulting in speech sounding muffled. This means that you can hear someone talking, but you can't tell if they said "sit" or "kit".
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| Noise Induced |
Excessive exposure to noise is one of the most common — yet also one of the most preventable — causes of permanent hearing loss. Every exposure to loud noise causes some degree of temporary hearing loss. Repeated exposure over a number of years, without proper hearing protection, results in gradual, permanent hearing loss.
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| Other Causes |
- Toxic medication:
Approximately 200 drugs have been labeled ototoxic, meaning they have the potential to cause toxic reactions to inner ear structure. Talk to your physician or pharmacist before beginning any new medications
- Head injuries
- Diseases such as German measles (rubella) during pregnancy, mumps, meningitis, Meniere's, multiple sclerosis
- Birth injury, such as temporary lack of oxygen
- Genetic disorder (inherited)
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