This temporary indication has great impact on hearing and the lengths of infection are dependent on individual capacities to fight them off. Secondary issues regarding hearing loss but very significant, are speech impairments, and certainly, arguably learning difficulties. Particular to thalidomide victims with profound hearing affectations and upper limb malformations is the issue of communication. Lip reading by others to be understood depends on the other's ability to read lips, not as common a skill as people think, therefore creating isolation issues, and learning disabilities. Dislocation and pain of the jaw, dental decay and tooth loss, neuralgia, and general stress have been reported.
Many reports exist of gum diseases and tooth decay.
Yellowing of teeth and brittleness of teeth have also been reported. Concern is heightened for those who many have teeth removed necessitating dentures and whether the mouth would then become another absence of a relied on tool, and how people with limb malformations could cope with denture care and application. There are many reports of nasal malformations of various degrees often leading to many sinus infections whereby simple colds and flu become a more serious problem. A common trait of thalidomide victims appears to be depressed nose bridges. For men there were malformed genitalia reported.