Q1. What causes deafness?

A1. Deafness or if you prefer, hearing loss can be caused by a variety of things which include:

• The ageing process
• Ear infections such as otitis media
• Side effects from certain types of medication
• Excessive noise
• Head injury
• Benign growth in the ear, e.g. cholesteatoma
• Workplace noise
• Ear allergy
• Genetic disorder, i.e. Usher’s Syndrome
• Foreign body in the ear
• Chemotherapy
• Perforated ear drum
• Otosclerosis (abnormal growth within the middle ear)
• Excessive ear wax
• Birth defect, e.g. rubella

Deafness can be defined as an absence of hearing: but there is spectrum when it comes to hearing loss which ranges from mild through to severe loss and profound deafness. Some people don’t like the term ‘deafness’ and prefer to use an alternative such as ‘hard of hearing’ or ‘hearing loss’ instead.

Hearing loss can start from birth, in adulthood or old age. It can come on suddenly or develop gradually over a period of time.

There are temporary and permanent forms of hearing loss.

Learn more about the various causes of deafness/hearing loss within this site.

FAQS Index : A guide to Hearing Loss

FAQs Intro

1. What causes deafness?
2. Why has my hearing gone worse as I have got older?
3. Is there more than one type of hearing loss?
4. Why does my child get lots of ear infections?
5. What is ‘glue ear?’

6. Can listening to an MP3 player affect your hearing?
7. I need a hearing test, what can I expect?
8. What is a cochlear implant?
9. What type of hearing aid will suit me?
10. Will deafness ever be cured?