In Sensorineural hearing loss, there is damage to the nerve connecting the inner ear and the brain. The brain is functionally very important as it receives signals from the ear. In fact, sensations from all over the body are processed in the brain.
In a person who is suffering with the sensorineural hearing loss, the brain does not perceive the sound that reaches the ear because the pathway to the brain, which is the nerve, is damaged. This kind of hearing loss may commonly occur without any known cause. There are other causes for the nerve damage and this includes the presence of a tumor or the presence of infection. A viral infection is the common cause of this kind of hearing impairment.
The deafness can be either mild, moderate or even severe. Total deafness can be present in some people too. The severity and cause of the problem can be identified by doing a complete evaluation.
People with this type of hearing loss can have various other symptoms too. The person who is suffering from this kind of hearing impairment will have symptoms of vertigo and tinnitus. The diagnosis of this condition is usually done with the help of a clinical examination. Hearing tests can be performed to identify the presence of this disease. EEG, MRI and CT are some of the various methods that will help to diagnose the person with Sensorineural hearing loss. The tuning fork can be used to perform certain simple tests like the Rinne test and the Weber test that can help in the diagnosis too.There are various methods in which a person who is suffering from this kind of Sensorineural hearing loss can be treated. A cochlear implant is another option in those with complete hearing loss. In other people, to enhance the hearing, hearing aids can be used. The amplifier that is present in the hearing aid will help to increase the sound so that the person will be able to hear the sounds.