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Sensorineural deafness

Contents of this page:

Illustrations

Ear anatomy
Ear anatomy

Alternative Names    Return to top

Nerve deafness

Definition    Return to top

Sensorineural deafness is decreased hearing or hearing loss that occurs from damage to the inner ear, the nerve that runs from the ear to the brain (auditory nerve), or the brain.

For more information, see the article on hearing loss.

Causes    Return to top

Sensorineural deafness can be present at birth (congenital), or it can develop later in life (acquired) as a result of:

In some cases, the cause is unknown.

Update Date: 6/12/2009

Updated by: Luc Jasmin, MD, PhD, Department of Neurosurgery and Gene Therapeutics Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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