The causes of deafness and hearing loss are many. It ranges from being born premature to sickness to unknown causes. Hearing loss can affect people of all age groups. This article will briefly highlight the various causes of hearing loss and deafness.

Hearing loss is of 3 types:
1.Conductive: Occurs in the middle ear and can be treated in most cases.
2.Sensory-Neural hearing loss :Occurs due to damage of the inner ear. Can be treated completely in rare cases. This occurs due to viral infection,trauma and strokes.
3.Combination hearing loss: The can be conductive or sensory-neural. The conductive hearing loss can be corrected easily.

Hearing loss can be temporary and permanent.Use of modern electronic devices such as MP3 and I-pod's for long duration is the latest cause of hearing loss.

Causes of Temporary hearing loss:
1.Build up of wax
2.Otitis media or ear infection with cold.
3.Allergies.
4.Exposure to loud sounds.
5.Noise induced hearing loss.
6.Entry to foreign substances such as insects.

Causes of Permanent hearing loss:
1.Congenital hearing loss: This occurs due to anoxia, premature birth, maternal diabetes and ingestion of any poison by mother in pregnancy.
2.Genetic hearing loss: Genetic disorders like Waardenburg Syndrome, Neurofibromatosis Type II, Treacher-Collins Syndrome,Pendred's Syndrome and Hurlers Syndrome.
3.Ear infection like the middle ear infections causes deafness. Sometimes this infection may affect the Eustachian tubes.
4.Trauma is another known cause for permanent loss of hearing. They can be conductive or sensory-neural.
5.Prenatatal deafness: This occurs due to rubella infection or other viral infections at the time of pregnancy. Some drugs like Thaliomide, quinidine and certain aminoglycosides taken during pregnancy can cause deafness in the baby when born.
6.Postnatal deafness: This again occurs if certain viral infections occur like mumps, measles or meningitis before 6 months of age.
7.Constant exposure to loud sounds and aging: they are other causes of permanent hearing loss or deafness. The onset of hearing loss occurs slowly and progresses further. Aging brain is thought to be the cause of hearing loss in the elderly.
8. Autoimmune disorders: Crohn's disease is an autoimmune disorder which causes deafness. This occurs when the antibodies of the body attacks the inner ear. This is a less known cause.
9.Injury to eardrum: Injury to ear drum due to use of ear drums, loud explosions causing a sudden change in air pressure and other injuries.

The causes of hearing loss and total deafness may vary. Whatever be the cause, prompt treatment can prevent or treat most cases to a small or large extent.

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