Sensorineural hearing loss

This type of hearing loss involves damage to the inner ear or the nerve from the ear to the brain.

Sensorineural hearing loss is permanent. Causes include aging and long-term exposure to loud noise.

Higher pitched tones may seem muffled. It may be hard to pick out words against background noise.

Treatments can improve hearing but not restore the loss. Treatments include hearing aids, cochlear implants and listening aids.