What type of hearing loss occurs with air conduction and bone conduction thresholds within 10 dB?

When air conduction and bone conduction thresholds are within 10 dB of each other, this typically indicates the absence of a conductive component to the hearing loss. In this scenario, the type of hearing loss that is present is sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL).

Sensorineural hearing loss arises from issues in the inner ear (the cochlea) or along the auditory pathways to the brain and affects both air and bone conduction thresholds fairly equally. Because the thresholds are similar, it signifies that the auditory system, including the inner ear structures and the neural pathways, is functioning abnormally.

Moreover, conductive hearing loss is characterized by a significant difference between air conduction and bone conduction thresholds, indicating a problem in the outer or middle ear. Mixed hearing loss presents with elements of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, suggesting that there would be discrepancies between air and bone conduction thresholds.

In summary, the close relationship between the air conduction and bone conduction thresholds in this case confirms that the loss of hearing originates from the inner ear or auditory nerve rather than the outer or middle ear structures, thus categorizing it as sensorineural hearing loss.