What is sensorineural hearing loss caused by?

• A. Damage to the cochlea or auditory nerve.
• B. Sound waves blocked in the outer ear.
• C. The Rinne test compares bone conduction and air conduction.
• D. Clear delegation.

Answer: (A)

Sensorineural hearing loss happens when the inner ear or the nerves that carry sound information to the brain are damaged. The cochlea has hair cells that translate vibrations into electrical signals the brain can interpret; when these hair cells are damaged by loud noise, aging, certain drugs, infections, or trauma, the signals become weak or distorted. If the auditory nerve itself or its pathways is impaired, the brain doesn’t receive clear sound information even if the sound is loud enough. This contrasts with problems in the outer or middle ear, where sound is blocked before it reaches the inner ear, causing conductive hearing loss. A test like the Rinne helps distinguish between these types but is a diagnostic tool rather than a cause. The unrelated option about delegation doesn’t relate to how hearing works.