Claim: Hearing loss may be caused by illness.

Hearing loss , also known as hearing impairment , is a partial or total inability to hear . A deaf person has little to no hearing . Hearing loss may occur in one or both ears . In children hearing problems can affect the ability to learn spoken language and in adults it can cause work related difficulties . In some people , particularly older people , hearing loss can result in loneliness . Hearing loss can be temporary or permanent .   Hearing loss may be caused by a number of factors , including : genetics , ageing , exposure to noise , some infections , birth complications , trauma to the ear , and certain medications or toxins . A common condition that results in hearing loss is chronic ear infections . Certain infections during pregnancy such as syphilis and rubella may also cause hearing loss . Hearing loss is diagnosed when hearing testing finds that a person is unable to hear 25 decibels in at least one ear . Testing for poor hearing is recommended for all newborns . Hearing loss can be categorised as mild , moderate , moderate-severe , severe , or profound . There are three main types of hearing loss , conductive hearing loss , sensorineural hearing loss , and mixed hearing loss .   Half of hearing loss is preventable . This includes by immunization , proper care around pregnancy , avoiding loud noise , and avoiding certain medications . The World Health Organization recommends that young people limit the use of personal audio players to an hour a day in an effort to limit exposure to noise . Early identification and support are particularly important in children . For many hearing aids , sign language , cochlear implants and subtitles are useful . Lip reading is another useful skill some develop . Access to hearing aids , however , is limited in many areas of the world .   As of 2013 hearing loss affects about 1.1 billion people to some degree . It causes disability in 5 % -LRB- 360 to 538 million -RRB- and moderate to severe disability in 124 million people . Of those with moderate to severe disability 108 million live in low and middle income countries . Of those with hearing loss it began in 65 million during childhood . Those who use sign language and are members of Deaf culture see themselves as having a difference rather than an illness . Most members of Deaf culture oppose attempts to cure deafness and some within this community view cochlear implants with concern as they have the potential to eliminate their culture . The term hearing impairment is often viewed negatively as it emphasises what people can not do .