An auditory impairment may be caused by various physical conditions (e.g., childhood illnesses, pregnancy-related illnesses, injury, heredity, age, excessive or prolonged exposure to noise), and result in varying degrees of hearing loss. Generally, auditory impairments are categorized as mild, moderate, severe, or profound. An individual with a moderate hearing impairment may be able to hear the sound but have difficulty distinguishing specific speech patterns in a conversation. Individuals with a profound hearing impairment may not be able to hear sounds at all. An estimated 48 million Americans older than 12 years had hearing loss in at least one ear. The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) found that in 2014, an estimated 21.0 percent of adults aged >=18 years had difficulty following a conversation amid background noise, 11.2 percent had ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and 5.9 percent had sensitivity to everyday sounds. Auditory Impairment and Assistive Hearing Sourcebook, Second Edition begins with an overview of auditory impairment and explains how auditory problems impact people. It discusses the types of impairment and related disorders and explains about the auditory impairment caused by genetics and infections in detail. It also provides information on diagnosis, intervention, and treatment for people with auditory impairment. Information about assistive hearing and disability rights for people with auditory impairment is provided. The book concludes with a directory of resources for further help and information. Part 1: Introduction to Auditory Impairment describes the basics of the auditory system, its types along with information on auditory loss in infants, children, and older adults. It also discusses communication disorders and the impact of auditory loss on the quality of life. Part 2: Impact of Noise on Hearing Loss discusses the impact of noises in auditory impairment. This part gives information on various types of noises such as occupational noise exposure, timber, and chemicals responsible for hearing loss along with a brief note on noise exposure limits and its effects on reproductive health. Part 3: Auditory Impairment: Diseases and Related Disorders give information on infections responsible for hearing loss along with other factors that affect hearing such as hearing loss due to certain childhood cancers, balance disorders, age-related hearing loss, otosclerosis, and Ménière disease. Part 4: Auditory Impairment Caused by Genetics explains the autosomal recessive and dominant nonsyndromic auditory impairment, autosomal dominant and recessive syndromic auditory impairment along with maternally inherited diabetes mellitus. Part 5: Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment for Auditory Impairment is about the screening and auditory tests such as newborn hearing screening, balance tests and the instruments used in measuring hearing loss, their preventive measures along with intervention and treatment options such as medical and surgical solutions, gene therapy, and steroid injection for sudden deafness. Part 6: Assistive Hearing for People with Auditory Impairment lists rehabilitative and assistive technology aids that can help people with auditory impairment in their daily life. Part 7: Disability Rights for Auditory Impairment provide information about disability discrimination and disability rights for employment, public places accommodations, communication, and education. It also talks about service animals, filing complaints, and testing accommodations. Part 8: Additional Resources includes a directory of resources that can provide help and support for people with auditory impairment.
