Lesson13

Sensory/neural hearing loss

Caused by damage to or a disorder of the cochlea, specifically the hair cells or auditory nerve, and affects high frequencies.

Recruitment

Abnormal loudness growth leading to exaggerated sensitivity to loud sounds, characteristic of sensory/neural hearing loss.

Tinnitus

A common complaint in patients with sensory/neural hearing losses; may be perceived as unilateral or bilateral.

Noise-induced hearing loss

Sensory/neural loss due to prolonged exposure to high noise levels from work, military, or recreational activities.

Acoustic trauma

Inner ear damage from exposure to a single intense acoustic event.

Presbycusis

Sensory/neural hearing loss associated with age, also known as age-related hearing loss (ARHL).

Phonemic regression

A central processing disorder characterized by poorer speech understanding than expected for the degree of hearing loss.

Ototoxic drugs

Medications or treatments that damage the organ of Corti; includes certain antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents.

Congenital sensory/neural hearing loss

Hearing loss present at birth, typically bilateral.

Sudden hearing loss

A rapid change in hearing levels requiring immediate medical attention and referral.

Ménière’s disease

A disorder of the inner ear caused by increased endolymphatic pressure, characterized by fluctuating unilateral sensory/neural hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo.

Cranial trauma

Can lead to a fracture of the temporal bone.

Tone Decay

The inability to maintain tonal perception in the presence of an acoustic signal, indicating potential retrocochlear hearing loss.

Auditory fatigue

A reduction in auditory sensitivity due to sound exposure; often results in temporary threshold shift (TTS).