deafness

n. the partial or complete absence or loss of the sense of hearing. The condition may be hereditary or acquired by injury or disease at any stage of life, including in utero. The major kinds are conduction deafness, due to a disruption in sound vibrations before they reach the nerve endings of the inner ear, and sensorineural deafness, caused by a failure of the nerves or brain centers associated with the sense of hearing to transmit or interpret properly the impulses from the inner ear. Some individuals experience both conduction and sensorineural deafness, a form called mixed deafness. See also adventitious deafness; central deafness; congenital deafness; cortical deafness; exposure deafness; perception deafness. —deaf adj.

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Psychology term of the day

November 21st 2024

secondary amenorrhea

see amenorrhea.