About Hearing Loss and Balance Disorders

Hearing loss, also known as hard of hearing, anacusis, or hearing impairment, is a partial or total inability to hear. It may occur in one or both ears. In children hearing problems can affect the ability to learn language and in adults it can cause work related difficulties. In some people, particularly older people, hearing loss result in loneliness. Deafness is typically used to refer to those with no or only little hearing. Hearing loss may be caused by a number of factors, including: genetics, old age, exposure to noise, some infections, birth complications, trauma to the ear, and certain medications or toxins. A common infection that results in hearing loss is chronic ear infections. Certain infections during pregnancy such as rubella may also cause problems. Hearing loss is diagnosed when hearing testing finds that a person is unable to hear 25 decibels in at least one ear. Testing for poor hearing is recommended for all newborns. Hearing loss can be categorised as as mild, moderate, severe, or profound.