Menu Healthy Lifestyle Diseases & Conditions First Aid Symptoms Tests & Procedures Videos Definitions FAQs DeafnessUpdated: 2020-02-07OverviewDeafness is usually the result of inner ear or nerve damage. It may be caused by a congenital defect, injury, disease, certain medications, exposure to loud noise, or age-related wear and tear. SymptomsDeaf people hear very little to no sound. TreatmentsFor some, hearing may be possible with surgery or a hearing device. Lip-reading skills, written or printed text, and sign language may help with communication. © 1998-2022 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research(MFMER). All rights reserved. Terms of Use