Common Causes of Hearing Impairment

Hearing loss in children can be debilitating because there is the absence of auditory stimuli that would facilitate learning and language development. On the other hand, sudden hearing loss when a person or child already knew the meaning of sounds can be devastating to self-esteem. But why does hearing loss occur? Hearing loss occurs when one or more parts of the ear have lost the ability to function properly. Hearing loss also occurs when genes that dictate sound recognition underwent mutation and when there is damage in some parts of the brain. The causes of hearing loss are innumerable. Many of them will lead to temporary hearing impairment while others will result in permanent deafness. How to identify temporary hearing loss and differentiate it from permanent hearing loss will be based on the various tests that physicians use. These tests include a physical exam, clinical tests (e.g. CT scan, MRI, EKG), hearing tests with the audiologist, and a family medical history.

The usual classification of hearing impairment is based on the part of the ear that no longer functioned as well as it should. For example, if there is damage to the eardrum or to any other part found in the middle, the hearing loss is considered conductive. If the problem is in the inner ear or in the brain, the hearing loss is classified as sensorineural. Most cases of temporary hearing loss are conductive. The most common hearing loss causes that lead to temporary auditory impairment are the following.

• Ear infection – The World Health Organization identifies chronic ear infection in the middle ear as the primary cause of hearing loss in children.
• Ear trauma – Poking sharp objects like pencils and pins can damage or create holes of the eardrum, causing sudden hearing loss.
• Ear wax – Too much ear wax can block the whole ear canal and can prevent sound waves from coming in.

The sudden hearing loss or hearing loss in children can be permanent. Most cases of permanent hearing impairment could not be avoided but there are several situations in which permanent hearing loss can be avoided. The most common causes of permanent hearing loss are the following:

• Genes – Genes that dictate the process of receiving, processing, and understanding sounds can mutate. The majority of cases of hearing loss in children and in infants are due to genes.
• Infections – An infection may happen during pregnancy and would lead to permanent hearing loss. Some of these pregnancy-related infections are rubella, syphilis, cytomegalovirus , and toxoplasmosis . After birth, some of the infections that could lead to permanent hearing loss are bacterial meningitis, measles, and mumps.
• Alcohol and Drugs – Ingesting alcohol will lead to various harmful effects on the fetus. This is why doctors forbid pregnant women to drink alcohol. Some drugs/medications that can lead to permanent hearing loss in children and babies are accutane and dilantin.
• Structural problems – A child may be born with structural problems of the ear. The ear can be too narrow and this condition is called stenosis. Some ear parts may have malformations, such as an enlarged vestibular aqueduct .
• Physical trauma – Head injuries, concussions, and constant exposure to ear-splitting noises can bring permanent damage to the tiny parts of the ear.