What is a defining characteristic of a sensorineural hearing loss audiogram?

A defining characteristic of a sensorineural hearing loss audiogram is that there are no air-bone gaps present. Sensorineural hearing loss occurs due to damage to the inner ear (cochlea) or to the nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain. In this type of hearing loss, both air conduction and bone conduction thresholds are affected similarly, which means that the results of air conduction testing are not significantly different from those of bone conduction testing. Therefore, the audiogram will show the same or very similar results for both types of conduction, leading to no air-bone gap.

This is in contrast to conductive hearing loss, where air conduction thresholds are poorer than bone conduction thresholds, resulting in noticeable air-bone gaps. Understanding this characteristic is crucial for healthcare professionals in diagnosing and treating various types of hearing loss accurately.