What is the term for the intolerance to loud sounds often associated with sensorineural hearing loss?

The correct answer is the term "Recruitment." This refers to a phenomenon commonly observed in individuals with sensorineural hearing loss where there is an abnormal increase in perceived loudness of sounds at higher volumes. People experiencing recruitment find that sounds which are only mildly loud can quickly become uncomfortably loud, and this sensitivity to loud sounds is often a key characteristic of their hearing condition.

Understanding recruitment is important for hearing aid fitting and audiological treatment because it helps professionals tailor amplification to meet the unique needs of individuals with sensorineural hearing loss. It also provides insight into why certain sounds may be tolerable at lower volumes yet become intolerable as volume increases.

The other terms do not describe this specific phenomenon: desensitivity often refers to a reduction of sensitivity towards stimuli, which does not align with the experience of discomfort at loud sounds. Sound discrimination pertains to the ability to distinguish between different sounds and does not address issues related to loudness. Aural fatigue describes a temporary reduction in the ability to hear after prolonged exposure to sound, rather than an intolerance to loud sounds that immediately affects the listener's comfort.