A significant portion of hearing loss, approximately one-third, is attributable to noise exposure. The risk of damage is a function of both sound intensity and exposure duration; the louder the sound, the less time is needed to cause harm. For example, listening to music through earbuds at a high volume of 100–105 decibels can lead to noise-induced hearing loss in just 15 minutes and also increases the long-term risk of age-related hearing loss.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Sensorineural hearing loss can result from various factors, including aging, head or acoustic trauma, diseases such as measles or mumps, medications, environmental noise exposure, tumors, and toxins from certain solvents and metals.

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Sensorineural hearing loss is a type of hearing impairment that occurs when a hearing problem is associated with a failure to transmit neural signals from the cochlea in the inner ear to the brain. It is recognized as the most common form of hearing loss.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

A cochlear implant is a small, complex electronic device that can help to provide a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard-of-hearing.

-  A microphone, which picks up sound from the environment.
-  A speech processor, which selects and arranges sounds picked up by the microphone.
-  A transmitter and receiver/stimulator, which receive signals from the speech processor and convert them into electric impulses.
-  An electrode array, which is a group of electrodes that collects the impulses from the stimulator and sends them to different regions of the auditory nerve.

Cochlear Implants

Causes of Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Ménière's disease is a condition that results in a degeneration of inner ear structures, leading to sensorineural hearing loss. Symptoms of this disease include hearing loss, tinnitus (a constant ringing or buzzing), vertigo (a sense of spinning), and an increase in pressure within the inner ear.

Ménière's Disease

Based on the following case details, identify where in the auditory pathway the hearing impairment is most likely occurring and explain your reasoning.

Auditory Pathway Malfunction

Tinnitus is an auditory symptom characterized by a constant ringing or buzzing sensation in the ears.

Tinnitus

Sensorineural hearing loss cannot be treated with hearing aids. However, some individuals with this type of hearing loss might be candidates for a cochlear implant as a treatment option.

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