What type of hearing loss is associated with disorders of the inner ear or cochlea?

Sensorineural hearing loss is specifically associated with disorders of the inner ear or cochlea. This type of hearing loss occurs when there is damage to the hair cells in the cochlea or to the auditory nerve pathways that carry sound information from the inner ear to the brain. This damage can be caused by various factors, including aging, exposure to loud noises, infections, or genetic conditions.

In contrast, conductive hearing loss involves issues with the outer or middle ear, preventing sound from being conducted properly to the inner ear. Mixed hearing loss is a combination of both conductive and sensorineural loss, and auditory processing disorder relates to difficulties in processing auditory information in the brain rather than issues with hearing sensitivity itself. Understanding these distinctions clarifies why sensorineural hearing loss is the correct classification for conditions involving the inner ear or cochlea.