What causes sensorineural hearing loss?

Sensorineural hearing loss happens when there is a problem in the inner ear (the cochlea) or the nerve that carries sound signals to the brain. Inside the cochlea are thousands of delicate hair cells that turn sound vibrations into nerve signals. When these cells or the hearing nerve are damaged, sound can become quieter and, importantly, less clear. This type of hearing loss is usually permanent, though it can very often be helped.

What are the most common causes?

There is rarely a single cause. For many people, several factors add up over a lifetime. The most frequent contributors include:

• Ageing: gradual, natural changes to the inner ear are the most common reason, often affecting high-pitched sounds first.
• Noise exposure: loud noise over the years, or intense one-off blasts, can damage the hair cells.
• Genetics: a family history can make some people more prone to hearing changes.
• Illnesses: certain inner-ear conditions, such as Meniere's disease.
• Certain medications: a small number of drugs can be harmful to hearing, usually when used in high doses or over long periods.

Can it come on suddenly?

Most sensorineural hearing loss develops slowly, but occasionally it appears rapidly, often in one ear. A sudden, unexplained drop in hearing should be treated as urgent. It is best to contact a GP or seek medical care straight away, because prompt assessment gives the best chance of a good outcome. Do not wait to see if it improves on its own.

Why does clarity suffer, not just volume?

Because the hair cells help the brain separate one sound from another, sensorineural hearing loss often affects understanding as much as loudness. Many people say they can hear that someone is talking but cannot make out the words, particularly when there is background noise or several people speaking at once. High-pitched consonants such as "s", "f", "th" and "sh" tend to blur first, which is why speech can sound mumbled.

This is also why simply turning up the volume, on a television or a phone, does not always solve the problem. Louder sound can help you detect that speech is happening, but it does not automatically make the words clearer if the fine detail is missing. Well-fitted hearing devices are designed to address this by boosting the specific pitches you are missing, rather than making everything uniformly louder.

Can it be prevented or helped?

Not every cause is preventable, but you can reduce some risk by protecting your ears from loud noise, using hearing protection at concerts, sporting events, or noisy work, and giving your ears quiet recovery time. Age and genetics, of course, cannot be changed.

While sensorineural hearing loss is generally permanent, it can often be managed well. For many people, hearing aids can make speech clearer and conversation less tiring, and other technologies and communication strategies may also help. A qualified audiologist can measure the type and degree of any loss and explain the options suited to your hearing and lifestyle.

If you have noticed a change in your hearing, a comprehensive assessment is the sensible next step. At Hearing Help in Newport on the Redcliffe Peninsula, you can book a hearing assessment without a referral, and there is no pressure to proceed with anything further. Understanding the cause and pattern of your hearing early gives you the widest range of choices and helps you stay connected in the conversations that matter to you.