Disease is one possible cause of hearing loss or deafness. Deafness from diseases can be due to an infection or disease that affects the structural integrity of the ear. The diseases that can cause deafness do not necessarily cause deafness in every case. Some people may contract these diseases and recover with no damage to the ear.
Deafness from disease can happen any time during life, even before birth. Deafness can result from being exposed to rubella, influenza, or mumps before birth. Rubella is German measles. After birth, a severe cause of jaundice can put the baby at risk of hearing loss.
Some diseases classified as childhood diseases can cause deafness or hearing loss. Deafness from diseases of childhood can usually be prevented with proper vaccinations, however, this type of deafness remains fairly common in developing countries. Meningitis, mumps, cytomegalovirus, and chicken pox are examples of diseases that can cause deafness. Meningitis causes deafness if the inflammation around the brain causes the inner ear to also become inflamed.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus that can be passed from mother to newborn during birth. CMV can cause progressive, permanent hearing loss. The extra mucus from the common cold can also cause temporary hearing loss. Fevers can be a cause deafness from disease.
Ear infections are the most common causes of hearing loss in children. A middle ear infection may cause muffled hearing in the effected ear. The hearing loss can become more severe and permanent if the ear infection is left untreated. Swimmer’s ear, also called an external ear infection, can cause temporary hearing loss due to swelling of the ear canal.
Otosclerosis is a disease of the ear that causes bony projections to develop. These growths can interfere with hearing. Otosclerosis can affect the middle ear, inner ear, or both.
Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other autoimmune disorders have been associated with a risk of hearing loss. With these autoimmune diseases, hearing loss occurs if the immune system attacks the cells of the cochlea. Demyelinating diseases like MS can cause deafness.
Diabetes can cause hearing loss or deafness if the nerves or the blood supply of the ears is compromised. Nerve damage and damage to the circulatory system are symptoms of diabetes.
This is the first time i’m commenting or even communicating with anyone concerning my sickness. I’ve got Auto Immune Inner Ear Disease, long story short my last hearing test, I was left with hearing loss, nerve damage and a 36% difference in my two ears. My equilibrium was affected and I had to retrain my brain and stay focused.
If that all wasn’t enough prednisone was the only drug that worked for me and I was on it daily for two weeks shy of one year, we tried to quit on a couple of occassions but every sympton came back immediately, corticosteroids are great short term but, long term they are wicked, i’ve got some permanent issues because of them. I’m thankful my doctors had knowledge of Auto Immune Diseases and I Thank God I am still in remmission.