What is a common presentation of sensorineural hearing loss?

Sensorineural hearing loss often presents with difficulty hearing high frequencies. This type of hearing loss occurs due to damage to the inner ear (cochlea) or the auditory nerve pathways, which typically affects the ability to perceive higher-frequency sounds first. Individuals may notice that they struggle to hear voices or sounds that have a higher pitch, such as children's voices, certain musical notes, or sounds like birds chirping.

In contrast, pain in the ear is more commonly associated with conditions affecting the outer or middle ear, such as infections. Ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus, can be a symptom associated with sensorineural hearing loss, but it is not a defining presentation. Fluid drainage usually indicates issues with the eustachian tube or middle ear problems, such as otitis media, which is not characteristic of sensorineural hearing loss.