What type of hearing loss can occur from damage to the inner ear?

Sensory neural hearing loss occurs when there is damage to the inner ear, specifically to the hair cells in the cochlea or to the auditory nerve itself. This type of hearing loss affects the ability to transmit sound signals from the ear to the brain effectively. In the inner ear, various conditions and factors, such as age-related changes, exposure to loud noise, infections, or genetic predispositions, can contribute to this damage.

Understanding the distinction between different types of hearing loss is crucial in audiology. Conductive hearing loss, for example, typically results from issues in the outer or middle ear that impede sound transmission rather than from the inner ear. Auditory Processing disorders are related to how the brain interprets sounds but don't originate in the inner ear itself. Mixed hearing loss is a combination of both conductive and sensorineural factors.

Thus, identifying sensorineural hearing loss is important for effective diagnosis and treatment, as it relates directly to conditions affecting the inner ear.