Answer

Sensorineural hearing loss relates to the inner ear and specifically to that part of the inner ear called the cochlea.  The same description applies to hearing loss due to loss of normal function in any part of the complex pathway from the inner ear to the brain.  In most cases it affects both ears to a similar degree.

The most common causes of sensorineural hearing loss are exposure to excessive noise, reduced blood supply to the cochlea, certain infections usually viral and, most prevalent of all, growing older. Sensorineural hearing loss is almost always permanent and, over time, slowly becomes progressively worse.  Most adults with impaired hearing have sensorineural hearing loss for which the treatment is almost always an appropriate hearing aid system.

If you would like more information or advice, please do not hesitate to contact your local Amplifon Hearing Centre.