Non Hereditary Congenital Hearing Loss
There are a number of causes of non hereditary congenital hearing loss and it is probably easier to go through the main ones step by step.
1. Teratogenic Drugs- a drug or other substance capable of interfering with the development of a fetus, causing birth defects. Maternal exposure to these types of medications, especially in the very early stages of the development of the fetus, means that it will be particularly vulnerable to being damaged in some way. The drugs that fall into this category include Thalidomide, Reticonic and Quinine, and exposures to these are likely to result in a significant hearing loss being present at Birth.
2. Viral infections- this is where the mother has a particular infection during pregnancy and this can have a devastating effect on the unborn child. Those that are the most damaging and if contracted are likely to result in a mild to profound loss for the child are: Toxoplasmosis, Rubella and some forms of Syphilis.
There are also congenital hearing losses that occur during the fetal inner ear development as well as some dangers that are present during the immediate aftermath of the birth, such as Neo natal Septicaemia or Meningitis.