What type of hearing loss primarily occurs from damage to hair cells in the cochlea?

Nerve deafness, also referred to as sensorineural hearing loss, occurs primarily from damage to the inner ear's hair cells located in the cochlea or to the auditory nerve pathways. These hair cells play a crucial role in converting sound vibrations into electrical signals that the brain interprets as sound. When these cells are damaged—due to factors such as exposure to loud noises, aging, or certain illnesses—the ability to hear is compromised because the necessary signals cannot be effectively transmitted to the brain.

In contrast, conduction deafness typically results from issues in the outer or middle ear that prevent sound waves from efficiently reaching the cochlea, such as earwax buildup, fluid accumulation, or problems with the ossicles (the small bones in the middle ear). Central auditory processing disorders involve difficulties in how the brain processes auditory information, rather than issues with the ears themselves. Temporary threshold shift refers to a temporary reduction in hearing sensitivity, often following exposure to loud sounds, but doesn't indicate permanent damage like nerve deafness does. Thus, nerve deafness is accurately linked to damage in the cochlea, confirming it as the correct response.