Hearing Loss

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Hearing Loss

Around thirty-two million people in the United States have hearing losses of some degree. Of this number, approximately two million people have hearing losses severe enough to be considered deaf. We define the word “deaf,” as either partially or completely lacking in the sense of hearing (Lytle & Rovins). Throughout history, there have been many technological advances invented to aid the deaf, such as assistive devices, sign language, hearing aids and cochlear plants and mainstreaming.

Many factors contribute to the millions of Americans suffering from some form of deafness. Many Americans have been born with this problem, but there are also many others who lost their hearing throughout some point in their life. In many cases, deafness can be contributed to the passing of genes from parents to their children, and this trend continues from generation to generation. In most cases, hereditary deafness is caused by malformations of the inner ear, which may cause some form of genetic mutations (Hadadian). Some genetic disorders that cause deafness include trisomy 13 S, and lentigines syndrome. “While there are many other causes of deafness, they can be generalized somewhat according to the anatomy that is affected. Damage or malformation of the conducting parts of the ear can cause deafness and hearing loss” (Jones & Ewing).

This includes eardrum punctures and physical damage resulting from fevers and infections. Anyone who likes to sit front row at a rock concert will experience high decibel levels that can damage the hearing and cause some forms of nerve damage.

Serious forms of meningitis, mumps, and chicken pox can also cause deafness especially at an early age. One disease that affects the in...

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... one another (Language).

With the advancement of technology in the past 50 years, someday we might find a cure for the hearing impaired. Technology has advanced so much that it’s hard to believe this may not occur. This technology has given the hearing impaired the chance to hear the same sounds as someone who has perfect hearing. Imagine never hearing a word or sound before, and then all a sudden be given that chance. The joy it brings to that person must be indescribable. These technological advances have given the hearing impaired the chance to live their life just like any other. With the emergence of sign language, assistive devices, mainstreaming, hearing aids and cochlear plants the millions of Americans who experience impaired hearing have the chance to improve their hearing so that they can accomplish the things that they were once not able to do.

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