NERVE DEAFNESS Meaning and
Definition
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Nerve deafness, also known as sensorineural hearing loss or inner ear hearing loss, is a condition characterized by a permanent impairment in the hearing ability due to damage to the sensory hair cells or the auditory nerve pathways in the inner ear. It is the most common type of hearing loss, accounting for the majority of hearing impairments.
The term "nerve deafness" refers to the specific mechanism of this form of hearing loss. It occurs when the delicate hair cells found in the cochlea, which are responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals, become damaged or deteriorate over time. This can be caused by various factors, including aging, excessive noise exposure, genetic predisposition, viral infections, certain medications, or underlying health conditions.
The damage to these hair cells in the inner ear results in a reduced ability to detect and transmit sound signals to the brain, leading to difficulties in hearing and understanding speech, as well as problems with discerning different frequencies and volumes of sounds. Individuals affected by nerve deafness often experience hearing loss that is permanent and cannot be corrected through medical or surgical interventions. However, the use of hearing aids and other assistive listening devices can help amplify sounds and improve communication for individuals with nerve deafness.
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Loss of hearing due to disease of the auditory nerve.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for NERVE DEAFNESS
- berve deafness
- merve deafness
- jerve deafness
- herve deafness
- nwrve deafness
- nsrve deafness
- ndrve deafness
- nrrve deafness
- n4rve deafness
- n3rve deafness
- neeve deafness
- nedve deafness
- nefve deafness
- netve deafness
- ne5ve deafness
- ne4ve deafness
- nerce deafness
- nerbe deafness
- nerge deafness
Etymology of NERVE DEAFNESS
The term "nerve deafness" is composed of two words: "nerve" and "deafness".
The word "nerve" originated from the Latin word "nervus" which means "sinew, tendon". It then evolved to refer to the bundles of fibers in the body responsible for transmitting signals between the brain and different parts of the body. In the context of hearing, the auditory nerve carries electrical signals from the inner ear to the brain.
The word "deafness" originated from the Old English word "deaf" which means "lacking the power of hearing". It has Germanic roots with similar words existing in other Germanic languages.
Therefore, "nerve deafness" refers to a type of hearing loss that occurs due to damage or impairment of the auditory nerve, resulting in an inability to perceive sound.
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