Hearing impairment and deafness can be a common but complex problem - it affects over 9 million people in the UK alone - and is caused by many factors. Ear diseases which would receive routine treatment in the UK, are major causes of disablement and even death in the developing world. Left untreated, a simple ear infection can destroy the eardrum, or even lead to life-threatening brain abscesses or meningitis. Our work is not only life-changing but also occasionally life saving!

Screening children for disease or impairment and providing appropriate treatments, hearing aids etc can minimise the effects of many of the problems described below:

• Otitis media, which is common in children, especially before school age in the developing countries;

• Other infectious diseases, e.g. meningitis, measles, viral encaphalitides, mumps, malaria, herpes type 2 virus and cytomegalovirus infections;

• Disease of the mother during pregnancy, e.g. rubella, cytomegalovirus;

• Perinatal factors such as anoxia, traumatic brain damage, jaundice, rhesus;

• Excessive noise exposure over extended periods of time;

• Genetic factors, which might cause symptoms to appear at birth or later in life.  It is generally accepted that about half of all hearing impairment among children is of genetic origin;

• Ototoxic drugs, e.g. antibiotics, analgesics, antipyretics.

Causes of Deafness Links

International Deaf Children's Society