Understanding Hearing Impairment: Definition, Causes & Diagnosis

Anyone who has a decrease or a total absence of hearing in one or both ears is referred to as hearing impaired. People who are affected by this condition often choose to use sign language to communicate or wear a hearing aid.

Diagnosis

• Adults and older children that have a hearing impairment will be given an audiometry test that measures the patient's ability to hear tonal sounds at different volume levels. Infants who are being tested for a hearing impairment will have a tiny tube inserted into their ear to check the inner ear's response to sound.

Significance

• According to the World Health Organization, as many as 278 million people around the world have some degree of hearing impairment in both ears.

Types

• Hearing impairment can range from mild partial hearing loss in one or both ears to total deafness.

Common Causes

• Hearing impairment can be caused by childhood illness, middle ear infections, head injuries, long-term exposure to loud noise and the aging process.

Disability Classification

• A hearing impairment can be classified as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act if the impairment affects a person's ability to participate in normal activities.