Sensorineural hearing loss is often called ‘nerve deafness’. It’s caused by damage to the cochlea or the nerve pathways between the cochlea and the brain. Sensorineural hearing loss can be mild, moderate, severe, or profound. It can affect one or both ears and is usually permanent.

Mild – to moderately severe sensorineural hearing loss can usually be helped with hearing aids or a middle ear implant. Moderately severe to profound hearing loss can usually be helped with a cochlear implant.

Sensorineural hearing loss can be caused by:

• Inherited hearing loss
• Ageing (presbycusis)
• Viral infections such as rubella, measles, mumps, and cytomegalovirus.
• Drugs that damage the hearing system.
• Birth trauma.
• Complications from premature birth.
• Trauma (usually long-term exposure to extremely loud noise, commonly called industrial deafness).