Which type of hearing impairment is characterized by damage to the inner ear?

The type of hearing impairment that is characterized by damage to the inner ear is sensorineural hearing loss. This type of impairment occurs when there is damage to the hair cells in the cochlea or to the auditory nerve itself. Sensorineural hearing loss can result from various factors, including aging, exposure to loud noises, infections, or genetic predispositions. This damage affects the auditory pathways, leading to difficulties in hearing and processing sound.

On the other hand, conductive hearing loss typically involves problems in the outer or middle ear, which prevent sound from being conducted properly to the inner ear. Congenital hearing loss refers to hearing impairment that is present at birth, which may be caused by genetic factors or complications during pregnancy or delivery, and may not specifically pertain to inner ear damage. Adventitious hearing loss occurs after birth due to factors such as injury or illness, and it does not specifically indicate the type of damage involved. Thus, sensorineural is the most accurate description of hearing impairment related to inner ear damage.