What describes a physiological condition where the cochlea’s ability to convert certain frequencies is impaired?

The condition described pertains to a situation in which the cochlea, a critical structure in the inner ear responsible for converting sound vibrations into nerve impulses, experiences a long-term or permanent impairment in its ability to process certain frequencies. This can arise from various factors such as exposure to loud noises, age-related changes, or damage from ototoxic substances.

A permanent threshold shift indicates a lasting change in the sensitivity of hearing, meaning that the individual will consistently have difficulty hearing certain frequencies, which is indicative of a loss of function in the cochlea. In this condition, the threshold for hearing specific sounds is elevated, leading to a reduced ability to perceive those sounds effectively.

This contrasts with temporary shifts in auditory sensitivity that can happen from increased exposure to loud noises but are typically reversible. Conditions like auditory processing disorder focus more on neurological interpretation of sound rather than mechanical dysfunction of the cochlea. Acoustic reflex loss deals with the involuntary muscle response to loud sounds, but does not specifically describe the impairment of frequency response in the cochlea.