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Sensorineural deafness

Nerve deafness; Hearing loss - sensorineural; Acquired hearing loss; SNHL; Noise-induced hearing loss; NIHL; Presbycusis

Sensorineural deafness is a type of hearing loss. It occurs from damage to the inner ear, the nerve that runs from the ear to the brain (auditory nerve), or the brain.

Considerations

Symptoms may include:

  • Some sounds seem too loud.
  • You have problems following conversations when two or more people are talking.
  • You have problems hearing in noisy areas.
  • It is easier to hear men's voices than women's voices.
  • It is hard to tell high-pitched sounds (such as "s" or "th") from one another.
  • Other people's voices sound mumbled or slurred.
  • You have problems hearing when there is background noise.

Other symptoms include:

  • Feeling of being off-balance or dizzy (more common with Meniere disease and acoustic neuromas)

    Meniere disease

    Ménière disease is an inner ear disorder that affects balance and hearing.

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      Acoustic neuromas

      An acoustic neuroma is a slow-growing tumor of the nerve that connects the ear to the brain. This nerve is called the vestibular cochlear nerve. It...

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      • Ringing or buzzing sound in the ears (tinnitus)

        Tinnitus

        Tinnitus is the medical term for "hearing" noises in your ears. It occurs when there is no outside source of the sounds. Tinnitus is often called "r...

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        Causes

        The inner part of the ear contains tiny hair cells (nerve endings), that change sounds into electric signals. The nerves then carry these signals to the brain.

        Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is caused by damage to these special cells, or to the nerve fibers in the inner ear. Sometimes, the hearing loss is caused by damage to the nerve that carries the signals to the brain.

        Sensorineural deafness that is present at birth (congenital) is most often due to:

        • Genetic syndromes
        • Infections that the mother passes to her baby in the womb (toxoplasmosis, rubella, herpes)

          Toxoplasmosis

          Congenital toxoplasmosis is a group of symptoms that occur when an unborn baby (fetus) is infected with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii.

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            Rubella

            Congenital rubella is a condition that occurs in an infant whose mother is infected with the virus that causes German measles. Congenital means the ...

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              Herpes

              Newborn infants can become infected with herpes virus during pregnancy, during labor or delivery, or after birth.

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              Sensorineural hearing loss may develop in children or adults later in life (acquired) as a result of:

              • Age-related hearing loss

                Age-related hearing loss

                Age-related hearing loss, or presbycusis, is the slow loss of hearing that occurs as people get older.

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                • Disease of the blood vessels
                • Immune disease
                • Infections, such as meningitis, mumps, scarlet fever, and measles

                  Meningitis

                  Meningitis is an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. This covering is called the meninges.

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                    Mumps

                    Mumps is a contagious disease that leads to painful swelling of the salivary glands. The salivary glands produce saliva, a liquid that moistens food...

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                      Scarlet fever

                      Scarlet fever is caused by an infection with bacteria called A streptococcus. This is the same bacteria that cause strep throat.

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                        Measles

                        Measles is a very contagious (easily spread) illness caused by a virus.

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                        • Injury
                        • Loud noises or sounds, or loud sounds that last for a long time

                          Loud sounds that last for a long time

                          Occupational hearing loss is damage to the inner ear from noise or vibrations due to certain types of jobs.

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                          • Meniere disease

                            Meniere disease

                            Ménière disease is an inner ear disorder that affects balance and hearing.

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                            • Tumor, such as acoustic neuroma
                            • Use of certain medicines
                            • Working around loud noises every day

                            In some cases, the cause is unknown.

                            What to Expect at Your Office Visit

                            The goal of treatment is to improve your hearing. The following may be helpful:

                            • Hearing aids

                              Hearing aids

                              If you are living with hearing loss, you know that it takes extra effort to communicate with others. There are many different devices that can improv...

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                              • Telephone amplifiers and other assistive devices
                              • Sign language (for those with severe hearing loss)
                              • Speech reading (such as lip reading and using visual cues to aid communication)

                              A cochlear implant may be recommended for certain people with very severe hearing loss. Surgery is done to place the implant. The implant makes sounds seem louder, but does not restore normal hearing.

                              Cochlear implant

                              A cochlear implant is a small electronic device that helps people hear. It can be used for people who are deaf or very hard of hearing. A cochlear ...

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                                You will also learn strategies for living with hearing loss and advice to share with those around you for talking to someone with hearing loss.

                                Living with hearing loss

                                If you are living with hearing loss, you know that it takes extra effort to communicate with others. There are techniques you can learn to improve co...

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                                  Talking to someone with hearing loss

                                  It may be hard for a person with hearing loss to understand a conversation with another person. Being in a group conversation can be even harder. T...

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                                    Open References

                                    References

                                    Arts HA. Sensorineural hearing loss in adults. In: Flint PW, Haughey BH, Lund V, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 150.

                                    Lonsbury-Martin BL, Martin GK. Noise-induced hearing loss. In: Flint PW, Haughey BH, Lund V, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 152.

                                    National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Noise-induced hearing loss. NIH Pub. No. 14-4233. Updated May 15, 2015. www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/noise-induced-hearing-loss. Accessed June 28, 2016.

                                    Shibata SB, Shearer AE, Smith RJH. Genetic sensorineural hearing loss. In: Flint PW, Haughey BH, Lund V, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 148.

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                                      • Ear anatomy

                                        Ear anatomy - illustration

                                        The ear consists of external, middle, and inner structures. The eardrum and the 3 tiny bones conduct sound from the eardrum to the cochlea.

                                        Ear anatomy

                                        illustration

                                        • Ear anatomy

                                          Ear anatomy - illustration

                                          The ear consists of external, middle, and inner structures. The eardrum and the 3 tiny bones conduct sound from the eardrum to the cochlea.

                                          Ear anatomy

                                          illustration

                                        Related Information

                                         
                                        • Hearing loss
                                         

                                        Review Date: 5/25/2016

                                        Reviewed By: Sumana Jothi, MD, specialist in laryngology, Assistant Clinical Professor, UCSF Otolaryngology, NCHCS VA, SFVA, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

                                        The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
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