What leads to sensorineural hearing loss?

Sensorineural hearing loss is primarily caused by damage to the hair cells in the cochlea, which are critical for converting sound waves into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain. These hair cells are sensitive structures that can be affected by various factors, including exposure to loud noise, infections, certain medications, or genetic conditions.

When these hair cells are damaged, the signals they send to the brain become distorted or are not sent at all, leading to a diminished ability to hear. This type of hearing loss often results in difficulty understanding speech, particularly in noisy environments, and is usually permanent due to the inability of hair cells to regenerate in humans.

Other options, while relevant to hearing loss, do not accurately define the cause of sensorineural hearing loss. Damage to the outer ear relates to conductive hearing loss, which involves sound transmission issues rather than processing issues at the cochlear level. Aging can contribute to sensorineural hearing loss but is not the sole cause, as it often involves the cumulative effects of various damaging factors over time. Lack of auditory stimulation may impact hearing ability but does not directly result in sensorineural hearing loss; this option does not specifically address the underlying physiological damage that leads to the condition.