This article provides an overview of the categories and causes of deafness.
Definition
The word "deaf" refers to a lack or loss of the sense of hearing, especially with a limited ability to understand speech.
Types
There are two medical categories of deafness: conductive and sensorineural. Conductive deafness is the result of an outer-ear obstruction or malfunction of the middle ear, usually a problem with the ossicles, small bones linked to the ear drum. Sensorineural deafness is caused by damage to the auditory nerve or cochlear inner ear cells.
Early Deafness
Individuals who are deaf at birth generally have sensorineural hearing loss, which may arise as a birth defect, side effect of another illness or a genetically acquired trait. Some multi-generational deaf families exist because of such genetic abnormalities, but nine out of 10 deaf children are born to hearing parents.
Late Deafness
The majority of deaf people lose their hearing later in life. The most common forms of sensorineural deafness are noise-induced, from prolonged exposure to loud sounds, or presbycusis, age-related hearing loss. Some ototoxic medications used to treat serious illnesses also cause sensorineural deafness.
Repeated ear infections, head trauma or other abnormalities in the middle ear may result in conductive hearing loss.
Prevention
To prevent noise-induced hearing loss, always use ear protection in noisy work environments, refrain from prolonged use of headphones or earbuds and keep music at low-volume levels.
Tags: hearing loss, from prolonged, most common, sensorineural deafness