Sensorineural, or nerve-related hearing loss, is hearing loss that is caused by problems in the inner ear. There are several reasons why someone could experience sensorineural hearing loss, and at our ENT clinic in Pearland, our doctors can diagnose the cause of your hearing loss and provide the appropriate treatment. If you've noticed that your ability to hear has decreased dramatically over the last few months, it's important to have an ENT specialist examine your ears as soon as possible.
Determining the Cause
There are several causes of sensorineural hearing loss. We've outlined a few of them here:
- Acoustic trauma – Excessively loud noise can damage the inner ear, and this noise can be from speakers at a concert, loud machinery in a factory, or anything that creates high decibels over an extended period of time. Ear protection is recommended and often vital when loud noise is present.
- Virus or disease – Conditions such as Meniere's Disease or a viral infection can cause sudden sensorineural hearing loss. If you have Meniere's or think you may have contracted a virus, we can find the appropriate treatment.
- Head trauma – A blow to the head or sudden change in pressure can cause damage to the inner ear. If you've been struck in the head, it's obviously most important to have yourself checked for a concussion and other internal injuries. If you notice later that your hearing has been affected, we'll do whatever we can to help.
If you're worried about hearing loss, or you want to discuss hearing aids or cochlear implants, contact our ENT clinic in Pearland today.
