Hearing loss does not always happen suddenly. Sometimes, you may simply notice that people seem to mumble, you keep increasing the TV volume, or conversations become harder to follow in noisy places.
These can be some of the early sensorineural hearing loss symptoms.
Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type of permanent hearing loss. It usually happens when there is damage to the tiny sensory cells in the inner ear or the auditory nerve that carries sound signals to the brain.
The good news is that identifying hearing changes early can help you understand what is happening and explore suitable ways to manage them.
“Hearing loss can sometimes be so gradual that you may not realise how much it is affecting your everyday conversations. A proper hearing assessment can help identify the type and degree of hearing loss and guide you towards the right solution.” — Rama Vaidyanathan, Audiologist in Chembur
Sensorineural Hearing Loss Symptoms
Early signs of sensorineural hearing loss might be subtle. You don’t have to feel like you’ve “lost your hearing” ; rather, things begin to get a little more challenging in your everyday life.
Here are some common symptoms to look out for:
Difficulty Understanding Speech
You can hear someone talking, but their words don't always sound clear. You may find yourself concentrating harder to understand what they are saying, especially during conversations.
Asking People to Repeat Themselves
If you frequently say “What?”, “Sorry?”, or ask someone to repeat what they said, it could be a sign that certain sounds are becoming harder to hear.
Trouble Hearing in Noisy Places
Places like restaurants, family get-togethers, and noisy workplaces may present a difficult time. You may be able to hear the sound, but find it difficult to isolate the voice amidst all that.
Increasing the TV or Phone Volume
Can't hear the TV without using an extra remote?Need to reach out for the remote since the television doesn't have enough volume? If others frequently complain about the volume being too loud, consider getting a hearing test.
Difficulty Hearing High-Pitched Sounds
For others with sensorineural hearing loss, it is challenging to hear higher frequency sounds. Children's speech may be difficult to understand or you may hear some speech sounds more clearly.
Speech Sounds Like Mumbling
When people are talking clearly, they come across as mumbling. This can occur when there is an improper reception of some frequencies.
Ringing or Buzzing in the Ears
Some people with hearing loss also experience tinnitus, which may sound like ringing, buzzing, humming or other noises in the ears.
One Ear Seems Better Than the Other
It is also possible that you will discover that your ability to hear is better when the other person speaking is on one particular side.
All cases of hearing problems do not necessarily have sensorineural hearing loss. Other forms of hearing issues may lead to such symptoms, making the hearing test necessary.
Notice changes in your hearing?
Don’t wait until conversations become difficult to follow. A professional hearing assessment can help identify what’s affecting your hearing and what can be done next.
What Causes Sensorineural Hearing Loss?
Sensorineural deafness is caused by damage to the highly sensitive parts responsible for hearing, especially the inner ear or the auditory nerve.
But what causes that damage?
Age-Related Hearing Changes
In the process of aging, the ability of the sensory cells within the inner ear to function may diminish. This is considered the leading cause of sensorineural hearing impairment.
Long-Term Exposure to Loud Noise
Frequent exposure to loud music, machinery, noise in the work environment, concerts, or loud sound devices may damage the delicate components present inside the inner ear.
This happens not immediately but gradually. One’s hearing changes with time because of continuous exposure.
Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
In some cases, hearing loss can develop suddenly, sometimes over a period of hours or a few days.
Sudden hearing loss should not be ignored. If you experience a sudden unexplained drop in hearing, seek medical attention promptly.
Certain Medications
Some medications can affect the inner ear and hearing. This is known as ototoxicity. The risk depends on the medication, dosage and individual circumstances.
Never stop a prescribed medication on your own. Speak with your doctor if you are concerned about its effect on your hearing.
Infections and Other Medical Conditions
Certain infections and medical conditions can affect the inner ear or the nerve pathways involved in hearing.
Head or Ear Injury
A significant injury involving the head or ear can sometimes affect the structures responsible for hearing.
Genetic Factors
Some types of sensorineural hearing loss can be linked to inherited factors and may occur earlier in life.
Who Is at Risk of Sensorineural Hearing Loss?
Sensorineural hearing loss can affect people of different ages. However, certain factors may increase the likelihood of developing it.
You may have a higher risk if you:
- Are getting older
- Spend a lot of time around loud sounds
- Work in a noisy environment
- Regularly listen to loud music through headphones or earphones
- Have a family history of hearing loss
- Have had certain illnesses or infections that affect hearing
- Take medications that can affect the inner ear
- Have experienced significant head or ear trauma
Your risk does not always translate to an increased likelihood of developing hearing loss. However, in case you experience some changes in your hearing ability, you should get them investigated instead of turning up the volume and moving on.
Not sure whether your hearing has changed?
A hearing test can help determine whether you have hearing loss and, if so, understand its type and severity.
How Is Sensorineural Hearing Loss Diagnosed?
Step one often consists of an extensive hearing assessment. This includes a discussion of your symptoms, how long you have had them, and if the symptoms affect one or both of your ears.
Your audiologist may then recommend different hearing tests depending on your symptoms.
Pure Tone Audiometry
Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA) tests your ability to hear various sounds at various frequencies and intensities.
You listen to a series of tones through headphones or earphones and respond whenever you hear a sound.
The findings are graphically represented on an audiogram to help illustrate the extent and nature of your hearing impairment.
Air and Bone Conduction Testing
These tests help determine how sound travels through your ear.
Comparing air conduction and bone conduction results can help an audiologist understand whether the hearing loss is conductive, sensorineural or mixed.
Speech Testing
Hearing isn’t only about detecting sounds. Understanding speech is equally important.
Speech testing may be used to see how well you can hear and understand spoken words at different listening levels.
Understanding Your Results
Your hearing test results can help identify:
- Whether hearing loss is present
- Whether it affects one or both ears
- The degree of hearing loss
- Which frequencies are affected
- Whether the pattern suggests sensorineural, conductive or mixed hearing loss
A proper assessment is important because hearing loss is not the same for everyone. The right recommendation depends on your individual hearing profile.
Treatment for Sensorineural Hearing Loss
It all comes down to the reason behind the hearing loss, the type and degree of hearing loss you have, as well as its impact on your daily life.
Hearing aids are very helpful for individuals that suffer from permanent sensorineural hearing loss.
Hearing Aids
Hearing aids are small electronic devices that amplify and process sounds according to your hearing needs.
Current hearing aid technology can be customized to amplify the particular frequencies that you are struggling with. There are also various kinds of hearing aids available depending on their features.
Hearing Aid Fitting
Getting a hearing aid is not necessarily the end of the process. The device needs to be properly fitted and adjusted according to your hearing levels and comfort.
An audiologist can help you understand how to use the device, make adjustments when needed and address any difficulties you experience while adapting to it.
Cochlear Implants
The possibility for those who have very profound hearing losses that cannot be treated with hearing aids could consider the use of a cochlear implant.
This can depend on certain conditions and requires an evaluation by professionals.
Managing the Underlying Cause
The management of hearing loss may also be based on its cause.
This means that cases of hearing loss that occur suddenly should be evaluated immediately because there is need for timely treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Early signs may involve having trouble understanding what people are saying, frequently asking people to repeat themselves, turning up the tv, having trouble hearing in noisy environments, and having more trouble hearing certain high pitched sounds.
The sensorineural type of hearing loss is often permanent due to damage to the sensory cells in the inner ear or damage to the auditory nerve. The right management, however, is based on what is causing the symptoms and how bad they are. Some sudden hearing changes may require urgent medical treatment.
This is determined by the causes of hearing impairment. Should you be suffering from irreparable hearing impairment which is of the sensorineural kind, the use of hearing aids will make it easier for people to hear you. In some instances, it might require cochlear implants.
Yes. There are many cases wherein people have problems with sensorineural hearing loss that may benefit from hearing aid use which would help in processing sound depending on the level of hearing. This device and its settings may vary depending on the test results and individual use.
In general, hearing sensitivity can be evaluated by doing a hearing test via the method called Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA). Hearing loss types can be identified through tests done for air and bone conduction, while speech tests may evaluate the ability to understand speech.
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