The targets are local health personnel, but public awareness of the problem should be increased to encourage early detection and management. Main Causes of Hearing Impairment and Deafness a. If it is not treated early or untreated, it can become life-threatening and often can be treated only by an operation. Deafness in Children One in 1000 children in developed countries and four in 1000 in developing countries are born with severe hearing loss. Mumps, measles and meningitis can cause severe deafness in children.
Immunization can prevent hearing loss resulting from such diseases.
Marriages among blood relatives more than double the chance of hereditary hearing loss. A family with an individual with hereditary hearing loss can benefit from genetic evaluation and counselling. Ototoxic Hearing Loss Certain antibiotics promote hearing loss. Their use is limited to life-threatening diseases because of the risk of permanent damage to hearing. When expectant mothers are given ototoxic drugs, there is a risk of damage to the unborn child.