Hearing Loss: What Is Sensorineural Hearing Loss?
There are two main categories hearing loss falls into - Conductive and Sensorineural.
I have already published an article on Ezine on the Conductive type.
The main difference between the two are that Conductive relates to anything that has caused a blockage in the ear canal.
Whereas Sensorineural is to do with damage to the structure of the ear or the "sensors" in the ear.
Damage to the structure of the ear can affect the tiny hairs in the inner ear, the small bones in the middle ear, the ear drum or any part of the pathway the sound waves need to travel in order to reach the brain.
If any part of the pathway is damaged it will either mean that the sound cannot reach the brain or that it will be corrupted along the path.
If it is corrupted the brain cannot interpret it properly into recognisable sounds.
It is similar to a mobile phone signal when you go through a tunnel, the signal breaks up and you can no longer understand what the person at the other end is saying.
What causes the damage to the ear in the first place can be numerous.
In some cases it can be present from birth.
Perhaps by some of the delicate mechanisms not being fully formed during pregnancy.
Or by some virus being passed from mother to baby.
In adults it can be caused by various prescription medications such as quinine, prolonged use of aspirin and some anti-inflammatories.
Other substances such as cocaine, barbiturates and opium can also cause damage.
Age can cause a hardening of the skin that makes up the ear drum, making it less effective.
Viruses and infections are also known to cause damage.
Sensorineural hearing loss can occur gradually or suddenly depending on the cause.
It will effect both the clarity and sharpness of your hearing - Remember the mobile phone analogy earlier? As with most things the sooner it is caught the better chance of the treatment being successful.
There will be a greater chance of being able to treat it naturally without having to resort to surgery.
This type of hearing loss can also be prevented.
For example smoking and too much caffeine can cause a narrowing of the blood vessels in the ear leading to permanent damage.
Cutting down or cutting these things out will help prevent this.
Diet also plays a big part in cause and prevention.
Try to limit your intake of saturated fats, salt and sugar.
Doing this will be good for your health overall, but will have the added benefit of going some way to prevent Sensorineural hearing loss.
I have already published an article on Ezine on the Conductive type.
The main difference between the two are that Conductive relates to anything that has caused a blockage in the ear canal.
Whereas Sensorineural is to do with damage to the structure of the ear or the "sensors" in the ear.
Damage to the structure of the ear can affect the tiny hairs in the inner ear, the small bones in the middle ear, the ear drum or any part of the pathway the sound waves need to travel in order to reach the brain.
If any part of the pathway is damaged it will either mean that the sound cannot reach the brain or that it will be corrupted along the path.
If it is corrupted the brain cannot interpret it properly into recognisable sounds.
It is similar to a mobile phone signal when you go through a tunnel, the signal breaks up and you can no longer understand what the person at the other end is saying.
What causes the damage to the ear in the first place can be numerous.
In some cases it can be present from birth.
Perhaps by some of the delicate mechanisms not being fully formed during pregnancy.
Or by some virus being passed from mother to baby.
In adults it can be caused by various prescription medications such as quinine, prolonged use of aspirin and some anti-inflammatories.
Other substances such as cocaine, barbiturates and opium can also cause damage.
Age can cause a hardening of the skin that makes up the ear drum, making it less effective.
Viruses and infections are also known to cause damage.
Sensorineural hearing loss can occur gradually or suddenly depending on the cause.
It will effect both the clarity and sharpness of your hearing - Remember the mobile phone analogy earlier? As with most things the sooner it is caught the better chance of the treatment being successful.
There will be a greater chance of being able to treat it naturally without having to resort to surgery.
This type of hearing loss can also be prevented.
For example smoking and too much caffeine can cause a narrowing of the blood vessels in the ear leading to permanent damage.
Cutting down or cutting these things out will help prevent this.
Diet also plays a big part in cause and prevention.
Try to limit your intake of saturated fats, salt and sugar.
Doing this will be good for your health overall, but will have the added benefit of going some way to prevent Sensorineural hearing loss.
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