What type of hearing loss is associated with damage to the inner ear?

Sensorineural hearing loss is characterized by damage to the inner ear, specifically the cochlea or the auditory nerve pathways. This type of hearing loss results from various factors, including aging, exposure to loud noise, genetic predisposition, infections, or diseases that affect the inner ear structures. When the inner ear is damaged, it impairs the ability to convert sound waves into electrical signals, which are then transmitted to the brain for interpretation.

Unlike conductive hearing loss, which involves problems in the outer or middle ear that prevent sound from being conducted effectively, sensorineural hearing loss is an issue at the level of sound processing. Central hearing loss, on the other hand, pertains to the brain's inability to interpret sounds correctly, even if the inner ear is functioning properly. Mixed hearing loss combines elements of both conductive and sensorineural loss, whereas sensorineural hearing loss is solely focused on the inner ear dysfunction. This delineation makes sensorineural hearing loss distinctively related to inner ear damage.