Congenital hearing loss is described as hearing loss that exists at birth. Factors responsible for

The ear is an extraordinary human organ that many people take for granted until it doesn’t function. It is the only device that allows the human to hear sounds in their environment. The ear is made up of many parts that distinguish various sounds through different means. The ear anatomy and physiology along with how sound waves are transmitted into meaningful sounds will help one understand how hearing loss occurs.

Deaf blindness can be due to several causes, such as Ushers Syndrome, Rubella (German measles) and problems caused by premature births.

The condition Colin is likely to be suffering from is Presbycusis. Presbycusis is an age-related hearing loss, it is a hearing disorder that can be caused by a variety of different factors. It is usually a sensorineural hearing disorder but can be a conductive hearing loss. A conductive hearing loss is when it is caused by problems with the ear canal, ear drum, middle ear and the malleus, uncus and stapes this can result in reduced function of the tympanic membrane or reduced function of auditory ossicles. Most commonly it is as a result of changes within the inner ear, middle ear or the nerve pathways to the brain. The cochlea is lined with tiny hair cells; these hairs convert sound vibrations into electrical signals which are received at the brain by a nerve. These cells can become damaged over time this means electrical signals cannot be transmitted as effectively so hearing becomes affected. Long-term exposure to loud noises such as that from traffic and loud equipment which Colin would have been exposed to working as a mechanic can also be a cause of

Deafness can be the result of many different causes such as otitis media (middle ear infections), hereditary disorders, genetic mutations at birth, prenatal exposure to certain diseases such as meningitis, and trauma to the eardrum or auditory nerves. (Better Health Channel, 2013)

An average of 90% of all babies born deaf or with some type of hearing loss are born to hearing parents. Deafness can be caused by a variety of things both genetic and environmental. Upon learning their child is deaf, most hearing families try to find ways to fix what they feel is a defect. However, deaf families rejoice in their child's deafness because now they have another person to strengthen the deaf community and carry on the American Deaf culture.

The ear is made up of three parts, the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. The ability to hear is dependent on these three parts of the ear working together, and a problem with any part can cause hearing loss (heaing loss education centre, 2012). The inner ear consists of the cochlea, the auditory hearing nerve and the brain. These are the organs of hearing and balance and convert sound waves into nerve signals. These signals are sent to the brain using a nerve called the vestibulocochlear nerve. Nerve deafness occurs if there is damage to the inner ear and although it is possible to regain some hearing through the help of a hearing device, nerve deafness is often permanent. (deaf websites, 2013)

This Is What It Is like to Be Deaf from Birth is a story about Cristina Hartman, explaining her personal experiences with a profound hearing loss (becoming deaf). Throughout Cristina’s experiences she explains, that being born deaf is quite normal; in other ways, it's not. She talked about things she did that were “normal” such as playing sports, playing with kids in the neighborhood, joining a sorority in college, and talking back to her parents. But with experiencing “normal” things she had to experience situations that were not normal, such as having to learn ASL, becoming a part of the schools deaf program, and identifying herself into a culture other than her parents. Early in her childhood, Cristina got a cochlear implant. The implant

She does not remember noticing that she couldn’t hear; her guess is that her hearing loss was from birth and very gradual, so she never noticed and thought it was normal as a kid. Her parents noticed something was off by the age of 3- she had a severe language delay, didn’t do well with verbal instruction, and was extremely quiet and shy. She does not know the cause of her hearing loss.

I was also born deaf and in most cases of deafness, the person is also mute,

Hearing loss can impact a child. People learn how to talk by listening to speech, but what happens if you have hearing loss. The earlier hearing loss is detected and treated, the more of a change the child will gain the speech and language skills of a normal child without a speech disorder. We have to be able to hear to learn properly to learn how to talk or a new language. Speech pathologist at the Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center says that “Permanent hearing loss will also affect speech and language development, especially if it is not detected early,” (CHSC,

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, “About 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 children in the United States are born with a detectable level of hearing loss in one or both ears.” Cochlear Implants are mechanical devices that are highly promoted by the hearing society to “cure” deafness. Despite the fact Cochlear Implants can be effective, the risk of serious physical and emotional harm to a patient outweighs the chances of its success.

This article talks about ocular morbidity and how it can be related to deaf children. They examined three different places in Nepal. It shows that when children are admitted to deaf schools they are also tested to see if ocular morbidity has also occurred. It was proven to be at least 37% of the kids had some sort of ocular examination before being admitted. These examinations also show that during the 7th week of embryonic stage the oculo-auditory parts are well defined and are able to be damaged. Another part of the article also stated that Pigmentary Retinopathy was also being related to congenital hearing loss in kids, yet Pigmentary Retinopathy is of the eye why congenital hearing loss is of the ear.

When a couple finds out that they are going to have a baby they most likely are thrilled and excited. They put time and preparation into the arrival of their new baby. The wonderful day finally arrives and the couple is blessed with a beautiful child. Healthy and fully-grown is what most new parents expect to hear from their doctor that just helped give birth to their newborn baby. Months pass by and the watch as their child grows from an infant to a toddler. When they go to the pediatrician for a routine check-up, they find out that their child is deaf. Approximately 3 in 1,000 babies are born with permanent hearing loss, making hearing loss one of the most common birth defects in America. (ASHA). Parents usually suspect a hearing loss before

There are many disabilities that occur among people, and one of the most common disabilities is deafness. When I was ten months old, I was diagnosed with Conexin 26 which is a genetic diagnosis of profound bi-lateral deafness, and I have had many obstacles throughout my life relating to it. However, deafness continues to make me the person I am today, and I am stronger because of that reason.

The people in the following list all have something in common: Whoopi Goldberg, Pete Townshend (lead guitarist of The Who), Huey Lewis, Helen Keller, Ludwig Van Beethoven, and Thomas Edison. If you were unable to guess, all of these people had a hearing loss. In terms of formal definition, a hearing loss is, “a spectrum of disorders causing a disruption or distortion of auditory information reaching or being processed by the central nervous system.” Hearing losses not only effect adults or the elderly, they are also prevalent among children. As future teachers, we should understand everything that accompanies a hearing loss considering we may have a few children with this disability through our careers as educators.