Deafness is the third most common disability in the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 2.5 billion people will have some kind of hearing loss by the year 2050.
Despite how common Deafness and hearing loss are, many people don’t understand what it means to live with permanent hearing disabilities.
In this article, Ability Central addresses some of the most frequently asked questions about Deafness, including:
How common are hearing loss and Deafness?
What are the types of hearing loss?
When is hearing loss considered Deafness?
What is the difference between “Deaf” and “Deaf”?
When can hearing loss and Deafness begin?
What causes Deafness?
Can hearing loss be reversed?
What is late-Deafness?
Where can I get more information about Deafness?
How common are hearing loss and Deafness?
Around 15% of adults in the US report difficulty with their hearing, but the actual numbers may be much higher for people who don’t realize they have a problem.
In addition:
2 to 3 of every 1,000 kids in the United States are born with some form of hearing loss.
Almost all (more than 90% of) Deaf children are born to hearing parents.
Men are almost 2x more likely than women to have hearing loss.
Around 11.5 million Americans (3.5% of the US population) have a hearing impairment.
While some types of Deafness are present at birth, hearing loss can be a natural part of the aging process or a result of injury or illness. For some, hearing loss can be so profound that it is disabling.
According to the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIH), disabling hearing loss affects about:
2% of adults aged 45 to 54
8.5% of adults aged 55 to 64
25% of adults aged 65 to 74
50% of adults aged 75 and older
What are the types of hearing loss?
There are 3 main types of hearing loss:
Conductive hearing loss affects the outer or middle ear.
Sensorineural hearing loss affects the inner ear.
Mixed hearing loss is a combination of both.
Each has different ways in which they are tested and treated by doctors. To learn more about hearing loss, see What is Hearing Loss? Quick Facts About Losing Your Hearing
When is hearing loss considered Deafness?
The WHO breaks down hearing loss and Deafness into 3 categories: hearing loss, hard of hearing, and Deaf.
Hearing loss
Someone with a hearing threshold below 20 dB (the average threshold for someone with “normal” hearing) has hearing loss. Affecting one or both ears, hearing loss can be:
Mild
Moderate
Severe
Profound
Someone with hearing loss may have trouble:
Understanding speech
Focusing in loud environments
Recognizing loud sounds
Hard of hearing
Someone who is hard of hearing has mild to severe hearing loss, which usually impacts communication the most.
While a hard-of-hearing person may use speech to communicate, they may also benefit from:
Amplifying technology like hearing aids or cochlear implants
Electronic communication features like captioning, email, instant messaging, and text messages
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tools
Sign language (like American Sign Language, or ASL)
Deaf
Finally, someone who is Deaf has profound hearing loss. In other words, they have very little hearing or no hearing at all. Many people who are Deaf rely on alternate communication tools like hearing aids or sign language.
What is the difference between “Deaf” and “Deaf”?
You might be wondering, why do we capitalize the “D” in “Deaf”? Simply put, people who identify as capital-D “Deaf” consider themselves culturally Deaf, while the word “deaf” without a capital D is typically a medical or informal term.
Many Deaf people do not see Deafness as a disability. Instead, people in the Deaf community often view their Deafness as an important part of their identity.
Considering themselves part of the larger Deaf community, many Deaf people prefer not to use labels like “hard of hearing.” In addition, many Deaf people tend to use sign languages like ASL over technology that compensates for their Deafness.
On the other hand, lowercase “deaf” usage typically refers to a medical diagnosis, something along the lines of an “audiological impairment.” The lowercase term “deafness,” in this case, is usually seen as a disability.
Someone in this category might use labels like “deaf” or “hard of hearing,” or they may prefer to share their medical diagnosis instead.
Someone who is deaf may not consider themselves part of the larger Deaf community and often doesn’t use sign language. Instead, they communicate via lip-reading, speaking aloud, or assistive technology (like hearing aids and cochlear implants) that compensates for their disability.
There is no right way or wrong way to identify as d/Deaf. Someone’s identity may depend on:
Their degree of hearing loss
Their relationship with Deaf or hard-of-hearing communities
When their hearing loss appeared
Other emotional, social, or cultural factors
If you don’t know how someone identifies, always ask if they prefer “Deaf,” “deaf,” or another term.
When can hearing loss or Deafness begin?
While hearing loss can start at any time, the WHO identifies four critical periods in someone’s life when they are most likely to develop hearing loss.
These include:
The prenatal period, when a baby is still in the womb. Genetics and infections during pregnancy are the most likely causes of congenital Deafness (hearing loss present at birth).
The perinatal period, shortly before, during, and after a child’s birth. Severe jaundice (kernicterus), low birth weight, lack of oxygen, and other factors can lead to hearing loss in infants.
Childhood and adolescence. Kids and teenagers are most susceptible to hearing loss due to chronic ear infections, buildup of fluid in the ears, or infections like meningitis.
Adulthood. Adults are more susceptible to accidents, age-related hearing loss, chronic diseases, or other factors that cause hearing loss. Certain factors like smoking, poor nutrition, or head trauma can contribute to hearing loss.
What causes Deafness?
Deafness can be congenital (meaning it is present at birth), temporary, or permanent. Some of the most common causes of Deafness include:
Genetic disorders.
Chronic disease.
Aging.
Constant exposure to loud noise.
Buildup of earwax or fluid, although the impact on hearing is usually temporary.
To learn more about the causes and risk factors of Deafness, see Deafness, Types of Hearing Loss, and What Causes Each.
Can hearing loss be reversed?
The only cases when hearing loss can be reversed are when the source can be treated. For example, someone suddenly unable to hear out of one ear might have their hearing restored when a doctor identifies and removes a blockage like earwax.
In most cases, however, hearing loss is not reversible. Instead, doctors and other hearing specialists take steps to improve what people can hear.
To learn more about treatments for Deafness, see Understanding a Hearing Loss or Deafness Diagnosis and Your Next Steps.
What is late-Deafness?
Someone who has lost some or all their hearing after they’ve already learned how to speak may be considered “late-Deaf.”
“Late-Deafness” refers to sudden, dramatic, or gradual hearing loss, usually due to:
Accidents
Genetics
Illness
Medication
Noise
Surgery
Some people with late-Deafness do not know what caused their Deafness. In general, people who are late-Deaf can’t understand speech without visual aids like sign language, lip reading, gestures, or written communication like captions.
Where can I get more information about Deafness?
For more information on Deafness, see:
For more information on conditions related to Deafness, see:
In addition to the resources on our Portal, Ability Central offers a searchable database of nonprofits across the country. Use the Service Locator tool to find an organization near you offering resources, programs, and support for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
