The prevention of hearing loss.
Hearing loss can affect up to 20% of the adult population and prevalence increases with age. However, hearing loss in childhood may have the most profound effects because of the block to the development of communication skills. Prevention of hearing loss is of major importance as treatment is often unsatisfactory. Causes are numerous, and may be multifactorial in an individual. Important causes include trauma, including noise and air pressure changes; genetic hearing loss; infection, including rubella; drug damage, metabolic and neoplasia.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications; D004423:Ear / Q000293:injuries; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease / Q000150:complications; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D012409:Rubella / Q000150:complications