OVERVIEW

Deafness, or hearing impairment, is a condition in which hearing is completely or partially impaired.

There are three main types of hearing loss:

• Conductive hearing loss (when sounds are unable to move from the outer ear to the inner ear)
• Sensorineural hearing loss (when the hair cells in the cochlea or auditory nerve are damaged)
• Mixed hearing loss (caused by both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss)

Causes

Causes of deafness and hair impairment can include:

• Age
• Inner-ear trauma
• Ear infection
• Glue ear
• Damage to hair cells in the ear
• Acoustic neuroma
• Mumps or measles
• Meniere's disease
• Neurological damage due to encephalitis, stroke, multiple sclerosis
• Viral infections that affect the ear
• Damage to the cochlea

Treatment

• Hearing aids
• Cochlear implants
• Learning and using sign language

VIDEOS

Video: Types and Causes of Hearing Loss

RESOURCES & SUPPORT

Local

Deaf Aotearoa
Sign Language Interpreters Association of New Zealand
New Zealand Sign Language Online Dictionary
DeafQuip
NZ Relay

International

Action on Hearing Loss UK
NHS – Hearing Loss
Hearing Loss Association of America

RESEARCH

Journal of the American Medical Association
British Medical Journal
The Lancet

FORUMS

Hearwell NZ
Hearing Forums
About Deafness Forum
Alldeaf.com

DISCLAIMER
The information above is of a general nature and is designed to provide you with an overview of the topic with links to local and international resources which maybe of interest.  We do our best to ensure that this information is accurate and up to date.

You should always, however, seek specific professional medical advice, treatment and care appropriate to you, and as such we strongly recommend you consult with your general practitioner.

Updated April 2012
Image source: Wikimedia Commons – Anatomy of the Human Ear