Details of Hearing Loss - Deafness

Deafness is the complete inability to hear sound. There can be many causes to this condition and it can occur at any age. People can go deaf suddenly as a complication of a virus, or lose their hearing over time because of disease, nerve damage, or injury caused by noise.

Inability to hear anything

May include:

• Damage to the inner ear
• Gradual buildup of ear wax
• Ear infection and abnormal bone growths or tumors
• Ruptured eardrum (tympanic membrane perforation)

Cochlear implants: A cochlear implant bypasses damaged or nonworking parts of the inner ear and directly stimulates the hearing nerve.

Surgical procedures: Some kinds of hearing loss are treatable with surgery, including abnormalities of the ear drum or bones of hearing (ossicles).

May deteriorate:

• Aging
• Loud noise
• Heredity
• Occupational noises
• Recreational noises
• Some medications