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Understanding Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL): Your Comprehensive Guide to Understanding the Condition and Treatment Options in Turkey

Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL) is a common condition affecting millions worldwide and accounts for over 90% of adult hearing loss. At Rehabtuek Healthcare Providers Network, we are committed to providing accurate and comprehensive information to help you better understand this condition and make informed decisions about your hearing health. As a hospital specializing in neurosurgery in Turkey, we are proud of our experts who offer the latest and most effective treatments. In this article, we will delve into what SNHL is, its causes, symptoms, and methods of diagnosis and treatment, focusing on how you can benefit from our advanced medical expertise in Turkey.

Key Takeaways

  • What is SNHL? SNHL occurs due to damage to the sensitive structures in the inner ear, specifically the cochlea or the auditory nerve.
  • Causes of SNHL include congenital factors, noise-induced hearing loss, age-related hearing loss (presbycusis), certain medications, illnesses, tumors, and head injuries.
  • Symptoms often involve difficulty hearing clearly, especially in noisy environments, understanding speech (particularly of women and children), muffled sounds, tinnitus, and sometimes dizziness.
  • Diagnosis involves physical examination, tuning fork tests (Weber and Rinne), and audiograms (pure-tone audiometry) to assess hearing ability and identify the type and severity of loss.
  • Treatment Options primarily focus on managing hearing loss, as damage is often irreversible. These include hearing aids and cochlear implants for severe to profound cases.

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What is Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL)?

Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL) occurs when there is damage to the sensitive structures in the inner ear, specifically the cochlea or the auditory nerve that transmits sound signals to the brain. The cochlea acts as a conversion center, containing tiny hairs called stereocilia. These hairs are responsible for converting vibrations from sound waves into nerve signals that the brain can interpret as sound.

Exposure to very loud sounds, exceeding 85 decibels (which is roughly equivalent to the noise of heavy traffic heard from inside a car), can damage these delicate hairs. Interestingly, a person may not notice hearing loss until 30% to 50% of these hairs have been damaged.

SNHL ranges in severity from mild to profound, depending on the extent of damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve. Degrees of hearing loss can be categorized as follows:

  • Mild Hearing Loss: Hearing loss ranging between 26 to 40 decibels.
  • Moderate Hearing Loss: Hearing loss ranging between 41 to 55 decibels.
  • Severe Hearing Loss: Hearing loss exceeding 71 decibels.

While SNHL may not be directly life-threatening, it can significantly impact a person’s ability to communicate and interact with their environment if not managed properly.

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What are the symptoms of SNHL?

Symptoms of SNHL can appear in one or both ears, depending on the underlying cause. In some cases, symptoms may not be entirely obvious without a specialized hearing test. Common symptoms of SNHL include:

  • Difficulty hearing sounds clearly, especially in noisy environments or with background noise.
  • Noticeable difficulty understanding the speech of children and women, due to the nature of their higher-frequency sounds.
  • A feeling that sounds are muffled or unclear.
  • Problems hearing high-pitched sounds.
  • Tinnitus, which is the sensation of hearing a constant ringing or buzzing sound.
  • Experiencing dizziness or balance problems, as the inner ear plays a role in maintaining balance.
  • A feeling that one hears sounds but cannot understand them clearly.

What are the causes of SNHL?

Several factors can lead to SNHL, categorized as follows:

Congenital Causes

Some children are born with SNHL, a condition known as congenital hearing loss. This is one of the most common birth defects, affecting approximately 1 to 3 out of every 1000 births. Genetic factors play a significant role, with about 50% of congenital hearing loss cases believed to be hereditary, while the other half is attributed to environmental factors. Over 100 genes have been linked to hereditary hearing loss. Additionally, infections the mother contracts during pregnancy (like German measles) or oxygen deprivation at birth can damage the inner ear or auditory nerve.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Repeated or sudden exposure to very loud sounds is a major cause of acquired SNHL. Listening to sounds exceeding 85 decibels can cause permanent damage to the cochlear hairs. Even a single exposure to extremely loud sounds, such as gunshots or powerful explosions, can cause irreversible hearing damage.

As people age, natural changes occur in the inner ear and auditory nerves, leading to what is known as age-related hearing loss or “presbycusis.” This condition is very common, with about one in three people aged 65 to 74 experiencing some form of hearing impairment. Age-related hearing loss typically develops gradually and may initially affect the ability to hear high-frequency sounds.

Other Causes

Other potential causes of SNHL include:

  • Certain Medications: Some antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs can be ototoxic, causing hearing damage.
  • Specific Illnesses: Diseases like meningitis, mumps, German measles, and Ménière’s disease can affect hearing.
  • Ear Tumors: Such as acoustic neuroma, a benign tumor that grows on the auditory nerve and can compress it, affecting sound signal transmission.
  • Head Injuries: Severe head trauma can damage the inner ear or auditory nerve.

Comparison between Conductive and Sensorineural Hearing Loss

It is crucial to distinguish between two main types of hearing loss: Conductive Hearing Loss and Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL).

Conductive Hearing Loss: This type occurs when there is a problem with the transmission of sound waves through the outer or middle ear to the inner ear. Causes can include:

  • Fluid buildup in the middle ear (especially after an ear infection).
  • Middle ear infections (Otitis Media).
  • Perforated eardrum.
  • Benign tumors in the middle ear.
  • Earwax buildup.
  • Obstruction of the ear canal by a foreign object.
  • Structural abnormalities of the outer or middle ear present from birth.

Individuals with conductive hearing loss often perceive sounds as muffled. In some cases, conductive hearing loss can be effectively treated through medical or surgical interventions that remove the obstruction or treat the infection.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss: As previously mentioned, this type results from damage to the cochlea or auditory nerve. Individuals with SNHL may perceive sounds as muffled and distorted.

Mixed Hearing Loss: Some individuals may experience a combination of both types of hearing loss, known as mixed hearing loss. This occurs if there is a problem in both the sound pathway (outer and middle ear) and the inner ear or auditory nerve.

Accurate diagnosis of hearing loss is paramount; the earlier the problem is detected and treated, the greater the chance of minimizing damage to ear structures and improving hearing restoration.

What types of SNHL are there?

SNHL can manifest in different patterns, depending on the affected ear and the degree of impact:

Bilateral SNHL

This type occurs when hearing loss affects both ears. Genetic causes, chronic exposure to loud noise, or certain illnesses (like measles) are often associated with this type.

Unilateral SNHL

This type affects only one ear. Causes may include an auditory nerve tumor (like acoustic neuroma), Ménière’s disease, or sudden exposure to very loud sound in one ear.

Asymmetrical SNHL

This occurs when hearing loss is present in both ears, but to varying degrees, with one ear being more affected than the other.

What is the diagnosis of SNHL?

To accurately diagnose SNHL and determine its cause and severity, doctors rely on a range of specialized tests:

Physical Examination

Diagnosis typically begins with a thorough physical examination of the ear. The doctor looks for signs of infection, earwax buildup, fluid in the middle ear, eardrum damage, or foreign objects. This examination can help make an initial distinction between conductive hearing loss and SNHL.

Tuning Fork Tests

Tuning fork tests are used as simple preliminary assessments of hearing and can provide some clues about the type of hearing loss:

  • Weber Test: The doctor strikes a tuning fork (usually 512 Hz) and places it on the center of the patient’s forehead. The patient is asked where they hear the sound more clearly. If the sound is heard louder in the affected ear, it may indicate conductive hearing loss in that ear. If the sound is heard louder in the healthy ear, it may suggest sensorineural hearing loss in the other ear.
  • Rinne Test: The doctor strikes a tuning fork and places it on the mastoid bone behind the ear (bone conduction). When the patient stops hearing the sound, the doctor moves the tuning fork in front of the ear canal (air conduction). In normal hearing, a person hears sound better through air conduction than bone conduction. If a person has sensorineural hearing loss, they may still be able to hear the sound better through air conduction, but generally will hear sounds more faintly. In cases of conductive hearing loss, they may hear better through bone conduction.

Audiogram / Pure-Tone Audiometry

The audiogram is the most accurate test for assessing hearing ability and determining the type and severity of hearing loss. In this test, the patient wears sound-isolating headphones, and different tones of varying loudness and pitch are presented to each ear individually. The patient is asked to indicate when they hear the sound. This test helps determine the minimum sound level a person can hear at different frequencies, providing a detailed picture of their hearing loss range. Speech tests may also be conducted to determine how well the patient understands spoken words.

What is the treatment for SNHL?

Currently, there is no surgical treatment that can reverse damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve in cases of SNHL. However, very effective options are available to help compensate for hearing loss and significantly improve quality of life. The choice of treatment depends on the severity of hearing loss, the patient’s age, and their general health condition.

Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are among the most common and effective treatments for SNHL. These devices amplify sounds, making it easier for a person to hear and understand them. Modern hearing aids are highly sophisticated and can be customized to suit each individual’s needs, with the ability to selectively amplify specific frequencies. For example, hearing aids can help improve the ability to hear high-frequency sounds without affecting other frequencies.

Cochlear Implants

For cases of severe to profound SNHL, or when hearing aids are not sufficiently effective, cochlear implants can be a revolutionary treatment option. A cochlear implant is an electronic device surgically implanted, consisting of two main parts:

  1. External Component: Includes a microphone and a speech processor worn behind the ear. The microphone picks up sounds, the processor analyzes them, and then sends electrical signals to the implanted component.
  2. Implanted Component: Consists of a receiver and stimulator surgically implanted under the skin behind the ear, with a thin electrode array placed in the inner ear’s cochlea.

The cochlear implant bypasses the damaged parts of the inner ear and sends sound signals directly to the auditory nerve, allowing the brain to interpret these signals as sound. At Rehabtuek Healthcare Providers Network, we utilize the latest cochlear implant technologies, and the procedures are overseen by a team of highly experienced neurosurgeons specializing in hearing disorders.

Does SNHL worsen?

Whether SNHL will continue to deteriorate depends on its cause.

  • Conditions that worsen over time: SNHL resulting from age-related factors (Presbycusis) or genetic factors often progresses gradually over time.
  • Conditions that may stabilize: If the cause of hearing loss is sudden exposure to very loud noise or temporary environmental factors, the symptoms may stabilize or improve slightly if the damaging causes are avoided.

Rehabtuek Expertise in Treating SNHL in Turkey

At Rehabtuek Healthcare Providers Network, we are proud of our integrated team of neurosurgeons, ENT doctors, audiologists, and highly experienced medical consultants. We understand that diagnosing and treating SNHL requires a multidisciplinary approach.

Our doctors offer free consultations, conducting a comprehensive assessment of your condition, including medical history, physical examination, and hearing test results. Based on these assessments, we develop a personalized treatment plan aimed at achieving the best possible outcomes for you. We are committed to using the latest medical technologies and methodologies to ensure you receive the care you deserve.

Practical Tips for Patients and Their Families:

  • Do not ignore signs of hearing loss: If you notice any difficulty in hearing, either for yourself or a family member, it is important to consult a specialist doctor as soon as possible. Early diagnosis can make a significant difference.
  • Understand treatment options: Familiarize yourself with hearing aids and cochlear implants. Talk to your doctor about which one is most suitable for your condition.
  • Protect remaining hearing: If you have hearing loss, it is essential to protect your remaining hearing from further noise exposure. Use earplugs in loud environments, and lower the volume when listening to music or watching TV.
  • Communication and Support: Talk openly with your family and friends about the challenges you face due to hearing loss. Social support is very important.
  • Seek expert help: At Rehabtuek, we are here to help you. Our team is ready to provide advice, support, and answer all your inquiries.

Why Choose Turkey and Rehabtuek for Hearing Treatment?

Turkey, particularly advanced medical centers like Rehabtuek, has become a leading destination for medical tourism, including neurosurgery and hearing disorder treatments. We offer:

  • Global Expertise: Our doctors possess years of experience in diagnosing and treating a wide range of hearing loss conditions, including complex cochlear implant procedures.
  • State-of-the-Art Technologies: We continuously invest in the latest diagnostic and surgical equipment and technologies to provide the best possible care.
  • Comprehensive Care: We provide a supportive and comfortable care environment, focusing on the individual needs of the patient.
  • Competitive Costs: We offer high-quality treatments at competitive prices compared to many Western countries, making specialized care accessible to everyone.

Contact Us Today

If you are suffering from sensorineural hearing loss or have any concerns about your hearing health, do not hesitate to contact us at Rehabtuek Healthcare Providers Network. Our team is always ready to provide support, advice, and answer all your questions.

Request a Free Consultation Now to explore how our experts in Turkey can help you regain your quality of life and hearing.

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