Clinical Skills ENT and Neck Practice Test 2026 - Free ENT and Neck Practice Questions and Study Guide

Sensorineural hearing loss primarily arises from damage to the inner ear's structures, specifically the cochlea and the auditory nerve. Aging, known as presbycusis, and noise exposure are the leading causes of this type of hearing loss.

As individuals age, the delicate hair cells within the cochlea can degenerate, resulting in a diminished ability to hear high-frequency sounds and an overall reduction in hearing sensitivity. Noise exposure, particularly when it's intense or prolonged, can cause irreversible damage to these hair cells due to overstimulation, also leading to sensorineural hearing loss.

In contrast, conditions like foreign bodies in the ear canal, fluid buildup in the middle ear, or earwax blockage typically result in conductive hearing loss, where sound transmission is obstructed. These issues do not usually affect the inner ear or the auditory pathways in the same ways that aging and noise exposure do, which is why they are not associated with sensorineural hearing loss.