Deafness can be classified as either a complete or partial hearing loss. If your cat is deaf at birth (congenital), it will be apparent to you when the cat is still at a young age. Cats that have white hair and blue irises appear to be particularly prone to congenital deafness. Some of the breeds that tend to be at highest risk for congenital deafness are white Persians, white Scottish folds, Ragdolls, white cornish rex and Devon rex, white oriental shorthair, white Turkish angora, white Maine coone, and white manx.
You will need to give a thorough history of your cat's health, onset of symptoms, and possible incidents that might have preceded this condition, including any drugs that may have damaged the ear or caused a chronic ear disease. Early age onset usually suggests birth defects (congenital causes) in predisposed breeds.
On the other hand, brain disease is a slow progressive disease of the cerebral cortex, usually caused by senility or cancer – causing the brain to be unable to register what the ear can hear. Bacterial cultures and hearing tests, such as sensitivity testing of the ear canal, may also be used to diagnose any underlying conditions.
Unfortunately, congenital deafness is irreversible. But if the loss of hearing is caused by an inflammation of the outer, middle, or inner ear, medical or surgical approaches may be used to attempt a reversal of the deafness. These two methods, however, are dependent on the extent of an existing disease, results from bacterial cultures, sensitivity test results, and X-ray findings. Conduction problems, in which sound waves do not reach the nerves for hearing, may improve as inflammation of the outer or middle ear are resolved. In some cases hearing aids are an option; they have been used successfully with some animals.
Your cat's physical activity should be reduced to avoid any possible injuries. That is, a deaf animal cannot hear the approach of a car or another animal, so it will need to be limited from outdoor activities. Your cat's immediate indoor environment may also need to be controlled for its own safety and protection, and household members and guests will need to be cautious of alarming or unintentionally hurting the cat.
If your cat is diagnosed with an ear disease, your veterinarian may need to see your cat regularly for treatment, or until the condition is resolved.
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