Hearing Loss

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Hearing Loss: Common Causes

Genetic:

• Osteogenesis imperfecta
• Leopard syndrome (multiple lentigines)
• Otosclerosis
• Robinson type ectodermal dysplasia
• Cockayne syndrome
• Bjorn pili torti and deafness syndrome
• Multiple synostosis syndrome
• Hunter syndrome
• Taybi oto-palato-digital syndrome
• Hereditary nephritis
• Mohr syndrome
• Hurler syndrome
• Waardenburg syndrome
• Kartagener syndrome
• Fronto-metaphyseal dysplasia syndrome
• Morquio syndrome
• Trisomy 13 S
• Multiple lentigines syndrome
• Treacher Collins syndrome
• Stickler syndrome

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

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

• 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)

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

• Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis)

• Any occupation with chronic 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

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