Causes of Deafness: Retrospection and Omens

Professionals in the field of deaf education are familiar with common causes of hearing loss identified for each child entering school. Prenatal care, early screening and identification, and parent-infant programs seek to minimize the incidence and effects of deafness. However, in the nineteenth century deaf children began school at a much later age (often receiving only a few years of education) due to the prevalence of adventitious deafness. When enrolling their child, parents stated the perceived reason for loss of hearing. From today's enlightened perspective, these explanations may seem superficial or superstitious, but a review of the records provides a haunting image of the past, helping us to understand people and circumstances over 100 years ago. Current vaccines and medications can prevent or minimize many illnesses which cause deafness, but at the same time drugs, both legal and illegal, have created new dangers to the hearing mechanism. Awareness and prevention are crucial.