Question

Dane worked for years as a jackhammer operator without consistently wearing earplugs and he now suffers nerve deafness. His loss of hearing is most likely caused by damage to which of the following?

1) nociceptors
2) cilia
3) the eardrum
4) the ear bones

Answer 1

Dane's nerve deafness is most likely caused by damage to the cilia or hair cells, which are crucial for hearing.

Step-by-step explanation:

Dane's long-term exposure to loud noise from a jackhammer without adequate ear protection has likely led to his nerve deafness due to damage to the inner ear's cilia. The cilia, also known as hair cells, line the cochlea and are crucial for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals that the auditory nerve carries to the brain.

When these hair cells are damaged, typically by exposure to loud sounds, it results in sensorineural hearing loss, which is not currently repairable and often permanent. Options such as hearing aids can partially compensate for the hearing loss, and for more severe cases, cochlear implants may be an option to directly stimulate the auditory nerve.