What is Congenital Deafness?
Congenital deafness describes loss of hearing that is already present at birth.
What Causes Congenital Deafness?
- Inherited causes: The deafness can (a) run in the family, (b) be part of a genetic disease (e.g. Waardenburg syndrome) and (c) be accompanied by abnormal physical traits (e.g. ear malformation).
- Certain drugs (ototoxic drugs), taken by the expectant mother, can damage the hearing of the unborn child.
- Infections of the expectant mother: Mainly rubella, cytomegalovirus, and syphilis. Toxoplasmosis is a less common cause than previously thought.
- Difficulties during or soon after birth: premature birth, lack of oxygen, head trauma, jaundice.
- Often the cause is unknown, but could actually be genetic.
What Cures Congenital Deafness?
Congenital deafness is usually irreversible. But a number of preventive measures can reduce the risk:
- Rubella vaccination, screening and treatment for syphilis.
- Good antenatal care and supervised births.
- Counselling regarding genetic risks for parents who were born deaf themselves and counselling regarding the dangers of intermarriage or consanguinity.
- Raised awareness amongst professionals and parents about the risks of potentially ototoxic medications.
- Congenital syphilis can be treated with high dose penicillin, but is best prevented by identification and eradication of the infection in the mother.
- The effects of congenitial deafness or hearing impairment can often be ameliorated by use of amplification devices including hearing aids and cochlear implants together with rehabilitation and education.
