NERVOUS DEAFNESS Meaning and
Definition
-
Nervous deafness, also known as sensorineural hearing loss or nerve deafness, refers to a condition in which an individual experiences a permanent or temporary loss of hearing sensitivity due to damage or dysfunction in the inner ear or the auditory nerve pathway. This condition typically affects both ears and can be characterized by an inability to hear soft sounds, difficulty understanding speech, or experiencing distorted or unclear sounds.
The underlying causes of nervous deafness can vary, including age-related degeneration, exposure to loud noises, genetic factors, certain medications or illnesses, and traumatic injuries. The damage in nervous deafness usually occurs in the cochlea, the snail-shaped, fluid-filled structure located in the inner ear responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals that the brain can interpret. It can also be a result of damage to the auditory nerve, which transmits these electrical signals from the cochlea to the brain.
Nervous deafness is distinct from conductive hearing loss, which occurs when there are obstacles or issues in the outer or middle ear that affect the conduction of sound waves. Unlike conductive hearing loss, nervous deafness cannot be corrected through medical or surgical interventions and often requires the use of hearing aids or other assistive listening devices to amplify sound. In some cases, cochlear implants may be recommended for individuals with severe or profound nervous deafness to bypass the damaged portions of the inner ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve.
-
D. Due to disease of the acoustic centers in the cortex, of the auditory nucleus, or of the nerve terminals in the labyrinth.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for NERVOUS DEAFNESS
- bervous deafness
- mervous deafness
- jervous deafness
- hervous deafness
- nwrvous deafness
- nsrvous deafness
- ndrvous deafness
- nrrvous deafness
- n4rvous deafness
- n3rvous deafness
- neevous deafness
- nedvous deafness
- nefvous deafness
- netvous deafness
- ne5vous deafness
- ne4vous deafness
- nercous deafness
- nerbous deafness
- nergous deafness
- nerfous deafness
Etymology of NERVOUS DEAFNESS
The term "nervous deafness" is a combination of two words: "nervous" and "deafness".
- "Nervous" derives from the Latin word "nervus", which means "sinew, tendon" or "nerve". Over time, the term expanded to refer to the network of nerves that transmit signals throughout the body. In modern usage, "nervous" typically relates to the state of being anxious, excitable, or easily agitated, as it became associated with the body's physiological response to stress or fear.
- "Deafness" traces its roots back to the Old English word "dēaf", which means "lacking the sense of hearing". The word has remained consistent throughout the centuries, referring to the inability to hear or partial hearing loss.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
