Causes of Hearing Loss
Some of the more common causes of a hearing loss are:
Accidents: cars, sports, fights
Cytomegalovirus (CMV): is a viral infection that can be contracted by handling cat litter during pregnancy. It produces few symptoms for the woman but can be pass to the fetus. This usually causes a progressive hearing loss.
Genetic Syndromes: Often cause mild to moderate hearing losses.
- Down Syndrome: genetic mutation
- Charge Syndrome: craniofacial disorder
- Warrenburg Syndrome
- Treacher Collins: facial disorder
- Allport Syndrome
Heredity: Family history of deafness or a child inheriting a recessive gene from both parents can produce a sensori-neural hearing loss of varying degrees.
Meningitis: Serious and dangerous infection causing inflammation in the lining, meninges, of the brain and spinal column. Because of its proximity to the ear, the infection can spread rapidly to the inner ear. The drugs needed to cure meningitis can also cause a hearing loss. Because the loss is generally profound, these children are often considered good candidates for cochlear implants.
Noise: Repeated or long-term exposure to loud noises cause damage to the fine hair cells in the cochlea. A hearing loss creeps up on a person. Initially there is a numbing sensation and a temporary loss of hearing, however, if the noise continues or a long period of time, the loss of hearing becomes permanent and there is no cure. Heavy equipment operators, airport personnel, rock musicians are at risk.
Otitus Media and Glue Ear: Commonly referred to as middle ear infections. Glue Ear occurs when fluid in the middle ear thickens and if not cleared can cause some loss of mobility of the staples which in turn causes a hearing loss.
Otosclerosis: A hereditary condition where growth-like bony sponges invade the middle or inner ear. The amount of hearing loss is dependent upon the amount of ostosclerosis is in the area.
Premature Babies or other pregnancy complications
Punctures to the eardrum: A puncture can occur as the result of an abrupt and big change in air pressure (explosions), unattended infections in the middle ear (severe otitus media), or putting foreign objects in the ear canal (Q-tips).
Rubella (German Measles): A viral infection which caused many profound hearing losses. Dangerous when a contracted in the first trimester of pregnancy rubella has been drastically reduced by a vaccine first produced in 1969.
http://library.thinkquest.org/15390/causes.htm
Tinnitus is a mystery ailment. Just why it occurs is unknown and at this time, there is no effective "cure" although it can be managed/masked to some extent. Tinnitus is a ringing, buzzing, or other noise occuring in the ear. The name comes from Latin and means “to ring a bell”. It may be affect one or both ears; it may be continuous, or intermittent, loud or soft; and it may change. Tinnitus may also be an early warning signal of an excessive exposure to noise over a significant period of time. Head injuries and certain prescription drugs, but even aspirin, taken in high doses can cause tinnitus. The ringing appears louder in quiet settings and often by turning on music or an electric fan the noise can be effectively blocked or masked. When it is accompanied by a hearing loss, wearing a hearing aid can also be helpful.
Work Safe BC: http://www2.worksafebc.com/hearing/
Tinnitus Association of Canada: http://www.kadis.com/ta/tinnitus_1.htm
American Tinnitus Association: http://www.ata.org
The Tinnitus and Hperacusis Centre: http://www.tinnitus.org