Bilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Bilateral hearing loss means both ears are affected.

Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is damage to the inner ear (cochlea) or to the nerve pathways from the inner ear (retrocochlear pathway of the acoustic nerve) to the brain.

Sensorineural hearing loss not only involves a reduction in sound level, or ability to hear faint sounds, but also affects speech understanding or ability to hear clearly.

Sensorineural hearing loss cannot be corrected medically or surgically. It is a permanent loss.