The following has been taken from Oticon, Inc.'s Workbook for Parents of Children who are Newly Identified as Hard of Hearing by Melanie Sisson, Au.D.:
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
A sensorineural hearing loss involves damage to the inner ear or the nerve of hearing. The inner ear consists of the organ of hearing (cochlea) and the balance system. The nerve of hearing is also called the auditory nerve or cranial nerve VIII. Sensorineural hearing loss most often involves damage to parts of the cochlea that may be attached to the nerve, but rarely involves damage to the nerve of hearing itself. The cochlea is shaped like a snail shell and is filled with fluid and tiny hair cells. The hearing nerve is part of the hearing portion of the central nervous system. It transmits signals from the cochlea to the brain. In some cases, sensorineural hearing loss may progress or get worse over time. Some children are born with hearing loss (congenital hearing loss) and some hearing losses occur sometime after birth (acquired hearing loss). When hearing loss occurs after birth, the child has had some time with normal hearing when s/he has heard speech and language and other common sounds. This can be helpful for future speech and language development. Common causes of sensorineural hearing loss include factors passed on from family members (genetic factors), certain illness, birth related complications, certain drugs, or being exposed to loud noise.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
A sensorineural hearing loss involves damage to the inner ear or the nerve of hearing. The inner ear consists of the organ of hearing (cochlea) and the balance system. The nerve of hearing is also called the auditory nerve or cranial nerve VIII. Sensorineural hearing loss most often involves damage to parts of the cochlea that may be attached to the nerve, but rarely involves damage to the nerve of hearing itself. The cochlea is shaped like a snail shell and is filled with fluid and tiny hair cells. The hearing nerve is part of the hearing portion of the central nervous system. It transmits signals from the cochlea to the brain. In some cases, sensorineural hearing loss may progress or get worse over time. Some children are born with hearing loss (congenital hearing loss) and some hearing losses occur sometime after birth (acquired hearing loss). When hearing loss occurs after birth, the child has had some time with normal hearing when s/he has heard speech and language and other common sounds. This can be helpful for future speech and language development. Common causes of sensorineural hearing loss include factors passed on from family members (genetic factors), certain illness, birth related complications, certain drugs, or being exposed to loud noise.
