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Resources by Disability
Deafness
Definition: Deafness is hearing loss or impairment. Approximately 20 million people in the United States are deaf. Because deafness lacks a standard legal definition, it can have a variety of meanings. It can refer to the inability to hear and understand speech (a condition that affects about 550,000 Americans), or the loss of hearing in one ear (which affects about 1,152,000 Americans).
Symptoms: Deafness can range from a mild hearing impairment to a severe loss.There are two basic types of deafness, classified by which areas of the auditory system are affected: sensorineural and conductive hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss results from damage to the inner ear (cochlea), or to the nerve pathways from the inner ear (retrocochlear) to the brain. It is a permanent condition that cannot be medically or surgically corrected. Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound does not properly travel through the outer ear canal to the eardrum of the middle ear. It usually involves a reduction in sound level, and can often be medically or surgically corrected.
Unilateral hearing loss (UHL) involves hearing loss in one ear. Nearly 3% of school-aged children have UHL.
Cause: Deafness can be congenital (present at birth) or acquired later in life. Congenital deafness can be inherited from a genetic disorder like waardenburg syndrome, or caused by a condition such as the rubella virus, to which the mother was exposed during pregnancy. Acquired deafness may be genetic (with delayed onset), or caused by damage to the ear resulting from prolonged exposure to extreme noises. Syndromes or infectious diseases associated with hearing loss, a family history, and premature birth may increase the risks of developing deafness. 50% of the time, deafness can be prevented through early diagnosis and proper care.
Diagnosis: Recent tests can screen hearing loss in newborn infants. It is critical to detect it very early in life, because if left untreated, deafness can permanently impair a child’s speech, language, learning, and cognitive abilities. Children ages 5 months to 3 years can take a hearing test called Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA).Treatment: Treating hearing loss in the early years of a child’s life can greatly reduce its impacts.
Treatment: Treatments vary depending on the severity, cause, and type of deafness. They may involve simply removing excess ear wax, treating an ear infection with antibiotics, or undergoing more invasive surgical procedures. Individuals with severe hearing impairments may benefit from rehabilitative speech therapy and social integration.
Myth: People often associate deafness with muteness. In truth, many deaf people choose not to use their voices. While deaf people have the same intellectual capacities as people with full hearing, speech development relies greatly on hearing oneself talk. Without this ability, it is difficult to learn speech, pronunciation, volume, and pitch.
Notable People with Deafness:
- Beethoven, an influential 18th Century pianist and composer.
Support Groups:
The Little Rock Foundation Family Resource Room
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
34th Street & Civic Center Boulevard
Philadelphia PA 19104
Tel: (267) 426-7285
Email: hughess@email.chop.edu
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