Deafness and Hearing Loss

Hearing loss ranges from mild difficulty hearing to complete deafness and can affect one or both ears. It can be present from birth or acquired later in life, and early identification, particularly in children, is important to support communication and development.

• Difficulty understanding speech, particularly in noisy environments or over the phone
• Frequently asking others to repeat themselves, or turning up the volume on devices
• In children: delayed speech and language development, or lack of response to sounds
• Ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus) can accompany some forms of hearing loss
• Social withdrawal or frustration related to communication difficulty, particularly in adults with gradually worsening hearing

• Conductive hearing loss results from a problem in the outer or middle ear preventing sound from reaching the inner ear, such as ear wax blockage, fluid, infection, or eardrum perforation.
• Sensorineural hearing loss results from damage to the inner ear or the hearing nerve, which can occur from ageing, noise exposure, certain infections (such as meningitis or congenital rubella), some medicines, or genetic causes.
• Some hearing loss is present from birth, related to genetic factors, infections during pregnancy, or complications around birth.

• Assessed through a hearing history and examination of the ear, including checking for wax, infection, or structural problems.
• Formal hearing testing (audiometry), where available, measures the type and degree of hearing loss and helps guide treatment.
• Newborn hearing screening, where available, allows early identification of congenital hearing loss so that support can begin as early as possible.

Hearing loss due to a treatable cause — such as ear wax blockage, middle ear fluid, or infection — is managed by addressing that specific cause, which can restore hearing.

Hearing aids can significantly improve hearing and communication for many people with sensorineural hearing loss, once fitted and adjusted appropriately.

Children with significant hearing loss benefit from early intervention, including hearing aids where appropriate and support for speech and language development, ideally starting as early as possible for the best developmental outcomes.

For severe to profound hearing loss not adequately helped by hearing aids, other options may be considered at specialist level, depending on availability.

Ongoing audiological follow-up helps monitor hearing and adjust support as needed over time.

• Protect hearing from prolonged loud noise exposure, using ear protection where needed, particularly in noisy occupational settings.
• Ensure rubella immunity before pregnancy, since congenital rubella infection is a preventable cause of hearing loss in babies.
• Seek prompt treatment for ear infections to reduce the risk of hearing complications.
• Support newborn hearing screening programmes where available, for early identification and intervention.
• Seek assessment for any concern about a child's hearing or speech development, since early support significantly improves outcomes.