Why Are People Deaf?

About 4,000 people lose their hearing every year, and only about 10 to 15 percent of these individuals know the cause of their hearing loss, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (See Reference 1). There are a number of conditions that can cause people to become deaf, or experience partial or complete hearing loss.

Otitis Media

• A middle ear infection, which is caused by a virus or bacteria, affects the middle ear, which transmits sound to the inner ear. An ear infection can cause people to experience temporary or permanent hearing loss, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (See Reference 2).

Tinnitus

• Tinnitus is a condition that is characterized by ringing, clicking or whistling sounds in one or both ears. This condition can cause people to experience different levels of hearing loss, according to the American Tinnitus Association (See Reference 3).

Meniere's Disease

• Meniere's disease is a disorder that affects the inner ear, the portion of the ear that is responsible for hearing and balance. The disorder can cause people to experience pressure in their ears and/or fluctuating hearing loss.

Presbycusis

• Presbycusis is a disorder that can result from changes in the middle or inner ear. It often causes people to experience hearing loss when they are over 60 years old, according to the University of Virginia Health System (See Resource 1).

Inherited Conditions

• Usher syndrome and Waardenburg syndrome are genetic conditions that can cause children to be born with partial or complete deafness. Pendred syndrome is a genetic disorder that can cause children to have hearing loss when they are born or before they are three years old.