Risks Factors 

Babies, Infants  

• Hearing loss inherited directly or indirectly from parents.

• Use of certain medicines that damage hearing.

• Jaundice, especially where it was not treated.

• Premature birth and/or low birth weight.

• Birthing difficulties where the baby may suffer lack of oxygen (hypoxia).

• Infections in the mother, such as rubella (german measles), syphilis, cytomegalovirus infection and toxoplasmosis during pregnancy can cause damage to the baby’s inner ear.

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Children  

• Infections such as mumps, measles and meningitis.

• Medicines e.g. certain anti-malarial drugs like quinine, antibiotics such as gentamycin, certain anti-cancer medicines.

• Ear infections commonly presenting with recurrent or persistent ear discharge.

• Glue ear or fluid that remains in the middle ear after a cold or ear infection.

• Injuries to the head or ear depending on the location and severity of the injury.

• Excessive ear was or a foreign body (e.g. beads, insects) in the ear canal. 

• Loud sounds e.g listening to loud music through headphones/earphones, in places such as music shows, exposure to loud explosions or fireworks.

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Adults  ​

• Prolonged noise exposure from working in noisy places e.g. loud machinery use, music industry, working with guns and other weapons.

• Listening to loud music through headphones, or in places with loud music, or single exposure to a high intensity sound like a blast or an explosion.

• Medicines that can damage hearing such as certain antibiotics, antimalarials, anticancer  medicines and injectables for drug resistant tuberculosis

• Injury to the head or ears.

• Untreated, prolonged ear infections.

• Age-related hearing loss.

• Ear diseases indicated by recurrent or persistent ear discharge or pain.

• Health conditions such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes.