Deafness What It Is - 1083 Words

What is deafness? Deafness is very different to people’s general perception of what it actually is. The most common view is that it is a complete loss of hearing however deafness is defined as the lack or loss of the ability to hear. You can either be born deaf or gradually lose the ability to hear later on in life (Presbycusis). Pre natal or congenital causes of deafness may be due to a specific X chromosome being passed on through generations of families even though there may be no previous history of deafness in the family. Deafness at birth can also be caused by illness during pregnancy such as herpes, rubella or even toxoplasmosis. Causes of deafness include the birth of premature babies. This†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ Mixed hearing loss- This is when there is a combination of SNHL and conductive hearing loss so the damage may occur in the outer/inner ear or the auditory nerve. As the source of the problem is unknown, this is known as mixed hearing loss. Facts about Deafness †¢ With approximately ten million people who suffer from hearing loss, it makes up the second largest disability in the UK. The majority being of retirement age or above. †¢ Out of the 10 million people (approx.) only around two million people use hearing aids. †¢ There are many different types of sign language for example, American Sign Language (ASL), British Sign Language (BSL), International Sign (IS) and many more. All have subtle differences in them. †¢ Approximately 840 children are born deaf in both ears each year. 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents with little or no experience of deafness or knowledge of how to communicate with a deaf person. †¢ Most of the time tinnitus (the constant ringing sound in people heads) will accompany hearing loss which makes the effect of deafness even more frustrating. The tinnitus can be mild or severe depending on each person and their age. †¢ By 2031, it is estimated that there will be 14.5 million people with hearing loss in the UK. †¢ Approximately 360 million people