What causes a Hearing Loss?
- Conductive:
- Blocking in the outer ear is a normal caused of a hearing loss. Wax or objects blocking canal, wax
buildup or growth in the canal or the auricle is closed. Fluids in the middle ear is another cause of a
conductive hearing loss.
- Otitis Media: an inflammation in the middle ear. Between 76-95% children experience Otitis Media
at least once by the time they're six years old, and approximately one-third of children experience
three or more episodes (Bess and Humes, 1995).
- Fluids: this is usually when the Eustachian tube is blocked off and permits the fluids to remain in the
middle ear.
- Otosclerosis: very uncommon disease that occurs when a spongy-boney growth develops around the
stirrup/malleus and interferes with the movements
buildup or growth in the canal or the auricle is closed. Fluids in the middle ear is another cause of a
conductive hearing loss.
- Otitis Media: an inflammation in the middle ear. Between 76-95% children experience Otitis Media
at least once by the time they're six years old, and approximately one-third of children experience
three or more episodes (Bess and Humes, 1995).
- Fluids: this is usually when the Eustachian tube is blocked off and permits the fluids to remain in the
middle ear.
- Otosclerosis: very uncommon disease that occurs when a spongy-boney growth develops around the
stirrup/malleus and interferes with the movements
Sensorineural:
- Premature Birth or Birth Complications: low birth weight, hemoorhage in the brain, or reduced
oxygen to inner ear.
- Heredity: genetically from parents and ancestors; statistics show that 90% of children who are deaf
have hearing parents, and approximately 30% have a deaf or hard of hearing relative (Moores,
1996).
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV): is a type of herpes tat is contracted by fetus in the uterus, through the
passage down the birth canal or through breast milk. This, unfortunately, can remain inactive in
the body and it has been estimated that almost 50% of children who are deaf or hard of hearing
may be a result of CMV (Schildroth, Rawlings, & Allen, 1989).
- Meningitis: bacterial or viral infection of the Central Nervous System that can extend to the ear,
brain and spinal cord. Children with this usually have a profound hearing loss and sometimes can
have other types of disabiltities as well.
- Mother-Child Blood (Rh) Incompatibility
- Rubella (German measles): virus attacks developing fetus casuing hearing loss, visual impairment,
heart disorders, as well as other disabilities. This usually occurs during the first trimester of a woman's
pregnancy.
- Syndromes
o Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21)
o Goldenhar Syndrome
o Pendred Syndrome
o Usher Syndrome
o Wardenburg Syndrome
o CHARGE Syndrome
oxygen to inner ear.
- Heredity: genetically from parents and ancestors; statistics show that 90% of children who are deaf
have hearing parents, and approximately 30% have a deaf or hard of hearing relative (Moores,
1996).
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV): is a type of herpes tat is contracted by fetus in the uterus, through the
passage down the birth canal or through breast milk. This, unfortunately, can remain inactive in
the body and it has been estimated that almost 50% of children who are deaf or hard of hearing
may be a result of CMV (Schildroth, Rawlings, & Allen, 1989).
- Meningitis: bacterial or viral infection of the Central Nervous System that can extend to the ear,
brain and spinal cord. Children with this usually have a profound hearing loss and sometimes can
have other types of disabiltities as well.
- Mother-Child Blood (Rh) Incompatibility
- Rubella (German measles): virus attacks developing fetus casuing hearing loss, visual impairment,
heart disorders, as well as other disabilities. This usually occurs during the first trimester of a woman's
pregnancy.
- Syndromes
o Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21)
o Goldenhar Syndrome
o Pendred Syndrome
o Usher Syndrome
o Wardenburg Syndrome
o CHARGE Syndrome
Childhood:
Prelingual (before development of spoken language)
o Premature or Birth Complications
o Heredity
o Rubella
o Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Postlingual (after development of spoken language)
o Meningitis
o Otitis Media
o Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
o Premature or Birth Complications
o Heredity
o Rubella
o Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Postlingual (after development of spoken language)
o Meningitis
o Otitis Media
o Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Adulthood:
- Noise: major cause of hearing loss among American adults which can be either temporary or
permanent
- Presbycusis: the leading cause of hearing loss in adults. Presbycusis is the hearing deterioration
resulting from old age
- Ototoxic Drugs: the usage of drugs that have ad adverse affect on hearing like thoseused on cancer
and/or HIV patients
- Meniere's Disease: disorder of cochlea: symptoms are as followed: sudden dizziness, tinnitus,
fluctations in hearing, and ear pressure. This is incurable and the hearing loss progresses after repeated
attacks.
permanent
- Presbycusis: the leading cause of hearing loss in adults. Presbycusis is the hearing deterioration
resulting from old age
- Ototoxic Drugs: the usage of drugs that have ad adverse affect on hearing like thoseused on cancer
and/or HIV patients
- Meniere's Disease: disorder of cochlea: symptoms are as followed: sudden dizziness, tinnitus,
fluctations in hearing, and ear pressure. This is incurable and the hearing loss progresses after repeated
attacks.
Source of Image:
Child trying to Hear [Digital image]. (2003) Retrieved November 17, 2010, from
http://portal.sochipe.cl/modulos.php?mod=noticias&fn=94e679ab46d568928ad91afb91a749bb&id=1535