This document discusses deafness and hearing loss. It defines different levels of deafness from mild to profound. Causes of deafness include being born deaf, aging, illness or injury. The document also describes various ways that deaf people communicate, including sign language, lip reading, gestures, hearing aids and cochlear implants. Sign language varies between countries and regions. Types of hearing loss are also defined from mild to profound. Common causes of hearing loss include ear infections, fluid in the ears, tumors and impacted earwax.