Deafness or hearing loss is a partial or total inability to hear. It can be caused by damage to the outer, middle, or inner ear, or to the auditory nerve that connects the ear to the brain. Deafness can also be present at birth (congenital) or acquired later in life.
The degree of deafness can vary from mild, where a person has some difficulty hearing but can still communicate using speech and lipreading, to profound, where a person is unable to hear anything at all and communication is only possible using sign language. In most cases of deafness, both ears are affected to some degree.
There are different types of deafness or hearing loss, which can be broadly classified as follows:
• Sensorineural deafness – This is the most common type of deafness and is caused by damage to the inner ear (cochlea) or auditory nerve. It can be present at birth or acquired later in life. Sensorineural deafness cannot be cured, but it can sometimes be helped with a hearing aid or cochlear implant.
• Conductive deafness – This type of deafness is caused by a problem with the outer or middle ear, such as a build-up of wax, an infection, or a perforated eardrum. In many cases, conductive deafness can be cured with surgery or other medical treatment.
• Mixed deafness – This is a combination of sensorineural and conductive deafness, where there is damage to both the inner ear and outer/middle ear.
There are many different causes of deafness or hearing loss, which can be broadly classified as follows:
• Congenital (present at birth) – This can be caused by genetic factors, problems during pregnancy (such as rubella), or complications during childbirth (such as jaundice). It can also be present from birth if the baby is born prematurely.
• Acquired (developed later in life) – This can be caused by exposure to loud noise (such as from machinery or music), certain medications (ototoxic drugs), infections (such as meningitis or mumps), injury, and ageing.
If you think you or your child may have deafness or hearing loss, it is important to see a doctor so that the cause can be found and appropriate treatment can be given. Treatment will depend on the type and cause of deafness or hearing loss, but may include surgery, medication, hearing aids, cochlear implants, and/or communication therapies.
All babies born in Australia are offered a hearing screen soon after birth, as part of the newborn blood spot test. This is to check for congenital deafness. If the hearing screen is not done at birth, it should be done as soon as possible afterwards.
The hearing screen involves placing a small soft tip on the baby's forehead and sending clicks or tones through it into the baby's ear. The responses are then measured and used to assess whether the baby has any hearing loss. Babies who do not pass the hearing screen will need further tests to confirm whether they have deafness or hearing loss and to find out how severe it is.
The signs and symptoms of hearing loss can vary depending on the type, cause, and severity of deafness or hearing loss. They may include:
• Difficulty hearing other people talking, especially when there is background noise
• Asking people to repeat themselves often
• Turning up the volume on the television or radio
• Having difficulty understanding words, particularly in children
• Muffled hearing
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
If you think your child may have deafness or hearing loss, it is important to see a doctor so that the cause can be found and appropriate treatment can be given. Treatment will depend on the type and cause of deafness or hearing loss, but may include surgery, medication, hearing aids, cochlear implants, and/or communication therapies.
If you think you or someone you know may have deafness or hearing loss, there are a number of organisations that can provide information and support. These include:
• Australian Hearing
• Deafness Forum Australia
• Hearing Aid Council of Australia
• Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children.
There are a number of different types of listening devices that can be used to help children with hearing loss. These include:
• Hearing aids – These are small electronic devices that are worn in or behind the ear. They make sounds louder so that the person can hear them better.
• Cochlear implants – These are devices that are surgically implanted into the inner ear. They work by sending electrical signals to the auditory nerve, which then sends messages to the brain. This allows the person to hear some sounds, even though they may not be able to hear them with a hearing aid.
• FM systems – These systems use a transmitter and receiver to send sound directly to the person's ear, without going through the air. This can be helpful in situations where there is a lot of background noise.
• Bone anchored hearing aids – These are devices that are surgically implanted into the bone behind the ear. They send vibrations through the bone to the inner ear, which then sends messages to the brain. This can be helpful for people who cannot wear a hearing aid because they have a hole in their eardrum or an outer ear deformity.
There are a number of different therapies that can be used to help children with deafness or hearing loss. These include:
• Auditory-verbal therapy – This is a type of therapy that helps children to listen and speak without using sign language.
• Cued speech – This is a system of hand shapes and mouth movements that are used to represent different sounds. It can be used along with spoken language or on its own.
• Sign language – This is a system of gestures, facial expressions, and body language that is used to communicate. It can be used on its own or along with spoken language.
• Total communication – This is an approach that uses all forms of communication, including spoken language, sign language, and cued speech.
Speech therapy can help children with hearing loss to develop their speech and language skills. Speech therapists work with children to help them learn how to produce sounds, understand and use language, and improve their communication skills.
Occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and psychological services may also be helpful for children with hearing loss. These therapies can help with the development of fine motor skills, gross motor skills, and social skills.
It is important to remember that every child is different and will respond to therapy in different ways. It is important to work with a therapist who is experienced in working with children with hearing loss.
There are a number of different types of financial support that are available for children with deafness or hearing loss. These include:
• The Australian Government's Hearing Services Program provides free hearing services to eligible people.
• The Commonwealth Hearing Services Voucher System provides vouchers to eligible people to help them pay for hearing services.
• Some state and territory governments also provide assistance with the costs of hearing services.
• Some private health insurers provide cover for the costs of hearing services.
It is important to speak to your doctor, audiologist, or other specialist to find out what type of financial support you may be eligible for. You can also contact the organisations listed above for more information
Hearing loss, hard of hearing, Deaf and deafness all have different meanings. Hearing loss is a term that is used to describe a range of hearing difficulties. It can be mild, moderate, severe, or profound. Hard of hearing is a term that is used to describe people who have difficulty hearing, but are still able to hear some sounds. Deaf is a term that is used to describe people who cannot hear any sound at all. Deafness is a term that can be used to describe either deafness or hard of hearing. It can also be used as a medical diagnosis. There are a number of different types of listening devices that can be used to help children with hearing loss.
