Sensory/Neural hearing loss is primarily caused by damage to which part of the auditory system?

Sensory/Neural hearing loss occurs primarily due to damage to the hair cells in the cochlea or the auditory nerve itself. The hair cells are crucial for converting sound vibrations into neural signals that can be processed by the brain. When these hair cells are damaged, or if the auditory nerve is compromised, it can result in the inability to transmit auditory information effectively, leading to hearing loss.

This type of hearing loss is often associated with age, exposure to loud noises, certain medications, and genetic factors. Since both the hair cells and the auditory nerve play integral roles in the sensory transduction process within the auditory system, damage to either can significantly impact hearing ability. Therefore, identifying that sensory/neural hearing loss can stem from issues with either of these components accurately reflects the underlying physiology of hearing impairment.