In fact, deafness and hearing loss have become common occurrences in today's world. Still, you may not fully understand the definition of the terms. According to experts, to be deaf is to have a hearing impairment that is so pronounced that an individual has significant difficulty processing the words or other sounds he or she is exposed to.

Loss of Hearing Bridges the Generation Gap

One can lose one's hearing at any age, making it an "equal opportunity handicap." Tens of thousands of school-age children are considered to be hearing-impaired. According to one U.S. Department of Education estimate, during the 2001-2002 school year, more than 70,000 students from age six to 21 received special services because of a hearing disability. Still, the actual number of children with significant deafness and hearing loss may be much higher, given the fact that many of them may be categorized according to other disabilities they possess.

For the most part, students are classified as deaf if they have a loss of hearing larger than 90 decibels. Their impairment may occur in one ear or both ears. Generally speaking, hearing impairment is categorized as slight, mild, moderate, severe, or profound. Therefore, there are many levels to hearing impairment.

Types of Hearing Impairment

Researchers have identified four types of hearing impairment. If someone suffers from a disease or obstruction in the outer or middle ear, it is characterized as a loss of hearing that is conductive. Such a condition can usually be treated with a hearing aid or with surgery. In a sensorineural case, the sensory hair cells of the inner ear have been damaged. In such a case, the loss of hearing may be mild or profound.

A mixed case usually refers to both conductive and sensorineural loss, while a central loss is caused by damage to the nerves or nuclei of the central nervous system in the brain or in the pathways to the brain.

Reason for Hope

Yet, if you or someone you love has been diagnosed with deafness and hearing loss, there is tremendous hope. Medical and educational advancements are enabling deaf people to thrive. Deaf culture is also quite rich, improving the quality of life for us all.