Advances in Understanding the Pathogenesis of Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Treatment Strategies and Implications for Auditory Protection

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a prevalent multifactorial condition affecting over 1.5 billion people worldwide. Its etiology includes genetic mutations, environmental factors, and age‐related degeneration, leading to irreversible damage to the cochlear hair cells and auditory neurons. Although conventional interventions, such as hearing aids and cochlear implants, provide partial relief, they do not restore the natural hearing function. Recent advances in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying SNHL, including oxidative stress, autophagy, apoptosis, ferroptosis, and pyroptosis, have provided novel insights into potential therapeutic targets. Emerging treatment strategies include gene therapy, which aims to correct genetic defects through gene replacement and editing; exosome‐based therapy, which facilitates cellular repair and protection; stem cell therapy, which promotes the hair cells and auditory neurons regeneration; and nanomedicine, which enables targeted drug delivery and cochlear protection. Despite these promising developments, challenges remain in translating these therapies from preclinical research to clinical applications, owing to safety, delivery efficiency, and long‐term efficacy concerns. This review summarizes the latest progress in SNHL research, highlights the key pathophysiological mechanisms, and explores treatment strategies. Understanding these advances is essential to develop effective interventions to prevent, and potentially reverse SNHL, ultimately improving the quality of life of affected individuals.