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Hearing
Nearly 30 million Americans have impaired hearing. The most common cause of
hearing loss in children is otitis media. For the elderly-the largest group
affected-excessive noise, drugs, toxins, and heredity are the most frequent
contributing factors.
Hearing loss is a medical disorder. In a limited number of patients, it can
be surgically corrected; medical devices and rehabilitation can substantially
reduce hearing loss in the vast majority of patients who cannot be helped by
surgery. The medical specialists who diagnose and treat hearing disorders are
called otolaryngologists-head
and neck surgeons, or more commonly, "ear, nose and throat doctors."
© 2004 AAO-HNS/AAO-HNSF
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