Hearing loss

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Ear anatomy

Congenital:

• Rubella syndrome
• Congenital atresia of the external auditory canal
• Congenital cytomegalovirus
• Congenital perilymphatic fistula
• Fetal methyl mercury effects
• Fetal iodine deficiency effects

Infectious:

• Meningitis
• Mumps
• Measles
• Ear infection (otitis media)
• Scarlet fever

Traumatic:

• Traumatic perforation of the eardrum
• Skull fracture (temporal bone)
• Acoustic trauma such as from explosions, fireworks, gunfire, rock concerts, and earphones
• Barotrauma (differences in pressure)

Toxic:

• Aminoglycoside antibiotics
• Ethacrynic acid - oral
• Aspirin
• Chloroquine
• Quinidine

Age-related:

• Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis)

Occupational:

• Any occupation with exposure to loud noises on a continuous day-to-day basis can result in hearing loss due to nerve end damage. Increased attention to conditions in the work environment has markedly decreased the likelihood of work-related hearing loss. See occupational hearing loss.

Other:

• Meniere's disease
• Acoustic neuroma

Temporary hearing loss can be caused by:

• The build-up of wax in the ear canal
• Foreign body lodged in the ear canal
• Injury to the head
• Allergy
• Blocked Eustachian tubes
• Scarred or perforated eardrum
• Ear infections (chronic otitis externa, chronic otitis media, malignant otitis externa)
• Reaction to medication such as aminoglycosides, chloroquine, quinidine

Review Date: 11/08/2005
Reviewed By: Alden J. Pearl M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.