Perceptive Deafness

Perceptive deafness occurs when the sound waves are conducted normally to the inner ear, but we do not perceive them correctly as a result of damage to the nerve cells in the inner ear, or to the nerve that runs from the cochlea to the brain. There are a number of different causes:

Congenital deafness is deafness which is present from birth. It may be a result of damage which occurs in the uterus, usually because of infection. It was a common problem following maternal infection with rubella (German Measles) in the early stages of pregnancy, but this has largely been eradicated through vaccination. Occasionally it may arise from birth problems interfering with the supply of oxygen producing nerve damage.

It can follow childhood infections such as mumps, measles and meningitis. These usually produce one-sided deafness.

There are drugs which are toxic to the auditory nerves and exposure to these may produce hearing loss which affects both ears.
 
 
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