It is easy to take our hearing for granted, and we may even damage our own hearing, leading to hearing loss. About 48 million Americans report some degree of hearing loss. Provide your readers with essential information on deafness and hearing impairment. This book also serves as a historical survey, by providing information on the controversies surrounding its causes. Compelling first-person narratives by people coping with deafness and hearing impairment give readers a first-hand experience. Patients, family members, or caregivers explain the condition from their own experience. The symptoms, causes, treatments, and potential cures are explained in detail. Essential to anyone trying to learn about diseases and conditions, the alternative treatments are explored. Student researchers and readers will find this book easily accessible through its careful and conscientious editing and a thorough introduction to each essay.