Hearing Loss: Neural Consequences

Hearing loss refers to a partial or complete inability to hear. It can be present at birth or it may develop later in life. It can affect one or both ears. Hearing problems in children may impair their ability to acquire spoken language, while social and occupational challenges are created for adults. Hearing loss can be permanent or temporary. When it occurs due to age, it often affects both ears and is caused by the loss of cochlear hair cell. There are various causes of hearing loss such as birth complications, certain medications or toxins, genetics, exposure to noise, trauma to the ear, some infections and ageing. Neural consequences of hearing loss can be seen in the structure of auditory cortex in humans. This book unravels the recent studies on hearing loss. It also strives to provide a fair idea about its neural consequences. This book will serve as a reference to a broad spectrum of readers.