Hearing Disorders and Deafness

URL of this page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/hearingdisordersanddeafness.html

Also called: Hearing loss, Presbycusis

It's frustrating to be unable to hear well enough to enjoy talking with friends or family. Hearing disorders make it hard, but not impossible, to hear. They can often be helped. Deafness can keep you from hearing sound at all.

What causes hearing loss? Some possibilities are

Heredity
Diseases such as ear infections and meningitis
Trauma
Certain medicines
Long-term exposure to loud noise
Aging

There are two main types of hearing loss. One happens when your inner ear or auditory nerve is damaged. This type is permanent. The other kind happens when sound waves cannot reach your inner ear. Earwax build-up, fluid or a punctured eardrum can cause it. Untreated, hearing problems can get worse. If you have trouble hearing, you can get help. Possible treatments include hearing aids, cochlear implants, special training, certain medicines and surgery.

NIH: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders