Final answer:
The correct statement indicating an understanding of sensorineural hearing loss is that it is permanent. Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by damage to the neural structures of the inner ear and cannot be fully repaired, though cochlear implants may provide some benefit.
Step-by-step explanation:
The patient with sensorineural hearing loss demonstrates understanding of their condition by recognizing that their type of hearing loss is typically permanent. Sensorineural hearing loss can result from damage to the hair cells in the organ of Corti, an abnormal auditory nerve, a fracture of the cochlea, or from damage to the nerves in the cochlea where the cilia are damaged but nerves remain functional. Unlike conductive hearing loss, which might be addressed through various treatments or surgeries, the sensory damage involved in sensorineural hearing loss is not generally repairable.
While some patients with sensorineural hearing loss may benefit from a cochlear implant which bypasses the damaged part of the ear and stimulates the auditory nerve directly, this does not restore hearing to normal. Instead, it provides a different way of perceiving sound that can be helpful for understanding speech and environmental sounds.
Therefore, the correct indication of understanding by the patient would be:
- D. "My hearing loss is permanent."