What type of hearing loss may be caused by infections or extended exposure to loud sounds?

Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve pathways leading to the brain. This type of hearing loss can result from various factors, including infections such as viral or bacterial illnesses that impact the inner ear, as well as prolonged exposure to loud sounds, which can damage the hair cells in the cochlea. These hair cells are crucial for converting sound vibrations into neural signals that can be interpreted by the brain.

In contrast, conductive hearing loss involves issues with the outer or middle ear that prevent sound from being transmitted effectively to the inner ear. This may be due to obstructions or damage that does not engage the inner ear structures directly. Functional hearing loss refers to situations where a person might not respond to sounds, but it is not due to an anatomical or physiological impairment; rather, it may be psychological or social in nature. Mixed hearing loss is a combination of both conductive and sensorineural loss, which does not specifically address the effects of infection or loud sounds on the auditory system on their own.

Understanding the differences in these types of hearing loss is important for effective diagnosis and treatment planning in audiology and music therapy contexts.