What is the condition called when there is a failure to transmit neural signals from the cochlea to the brain?

The condition characterized by a failure to transmit neural signals from the cochlea to the brain is known as sensorineural hearing loss. This type of hearing loss occurs due to damage to the inner ear structures, specifically the cochlea, or to the auditory nerve pathways that carry sound information to the brain. This impairment disrupts the way sound is processed and leads to difficulties in hearing, even if the outer and middle ear are functioning properly.

Sensorineural hearing loss can result from various factors, including aging, exposure to loud noise, genetic predispositions, and certain illnesses that affect the auditory system. The key distinction of this condition is that it involves a problem with the nerve pathways or the sensory cells themselves, rather than with the mechanical parts of hearing.

In comparison, conductive hearing loss typically involves an obstruction or damage to the outer or middle ear that prevents sound from being conducted to the cochlea. Central hearing loss can refer to issues arising from the brain rather than the ear, whereas auditory processing disorder is not specifically related to the physical structures of hearing but to how the brain interprets sound.