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Deafness means a lack or loss of the sense of hearing, which may be partial or complete. Partial loss of hearing is often called hearing loss rather than deafness.
There are three primary types of hearing loss:
Conductive ? hearing loss caused by outer or middle ear problems, such as ear infection, excess wax, or swelling. This type of hearing loss is most likely to respond to medical or surgical treatment.
Sensorineural ? hearing loss caused by disorders of the inner ear or auditory nerve. This type of loss is usually permanent. It can be caused by heredity or congenital problems, excess noise, medications, or infections.
Mixed ? hearing losses that are a combination of both conductive and sensorineural loss

The conditions can cause or be associated with hearing loss include the following:

- Ear infections
- Middle ear fluid
- Earwax
- Hole in the ear drum (tympanic membrane perforation)
- Nose or throat problems, such as:
- Nasal allergies
- Sinus problems
- Blockage of the eustachian tubes (tubes leading from the ears to the throat)
- Hereditary factors
- Birth defects
- Trauma, injury, or fracture
- Noise
- Ear disorders, such as:
- Otosclerosis
- Meniere?s disease
- Infections, such as:
-Viral infections
- Mumps
- Bacterial infections, such as:
- Syphilis
- Meningitis
- Tumors involving the:
- Ear
- Brain
- Neurological disorders
- Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
- Ototoxic drugs (medications that damage the ear), such as:
- Aspirin

Symptoms may include:

- Difficulty hearing
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Dizziness
- Ear pain
- Feeling of ear fullness (as in earwax or fluid)

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

- Audiometry (an electronic hearing test)
- Auditory response test
- CT scan of the head (if a tumor or fracture is suspected)
- X-ray of the head
- Tympanometry
- Caloric test
- MRI of the ear (see MRI of the head)