Discover MedlinePlus
MedlinePlus is a service of the National Library of Medicine, the largest biomedical library in the world. Use Medlineplus.gov anywhere, anytime, on any device - for free - to discover high-quality health and wellness information that is reliable, easy to understand, and free of advertising, in both English and Spanish. Discover topics such as:
Discover NIH
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the nation’s medical research agency — making important discoveries that improve health and save lives. NIH is made up of 27 Institutes and Centers, each with a specific research agenda, often focusing on particular diseases or body systems.
![Vertical image with word bubbles reading: Do you need a hearing test? Take this quick quiz. Text below reads: A quiz for adults ages 18 to 64. The results of this quiz do not substitute for medical advice. Please see our disclaimer below.](https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/Shareable_Images/do-you-need-hearing-test_source.png)
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NICDC) conducts and supports research in the normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language. Discover information in English and Spanish for topics such as:
- American Sign Language (ASL)
- Your Baby's Hearing Screening and Next Steps
- Hearing, Ear Infections, and Deafness
- Clinical Studies
This animated video illustrates how sounds travel from the ear to the brain, where they are interpreted and understood. Also available: How Do We Hear?, a step-by-step explanation.
Discover More
![An infographic summarizing information and statistics about hearing loss and hearing aid use in U.S. adults.](https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/Shareable%20Images/hearing-loss-and-hearing-aid-use_source.jpg)
Treatment and Intervention for Hearing Loss (CDC)
Hearing Disorders and Deafness (NIH MedlinePlus Magazine)
Providing Health Info to People Who are Deaf and the Hard of Hearing (NNLM Region 4: Connections, January 2023)
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology assistants; and students. ASHA Position statement for American Sign Language (ASL)
National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA) provides leadership, expertise, and education on hearing loss prevention strategies and services to the broader professional community and empowers and supports members through networking and advocacy. Watch Hearing is Quality of Life videos.
SoundCheck is a collaborative research and communications project led by NORC at the University of Chicago to identify the extent of hearing loss in the United States by state and county. Explore the map.
It's a Noisy Planet. Protect Their Hearing® is a national public education campaign designed to increase awareness among parents of children ages 8 to 12 about the causes and prevention of noise-induced hearing loss.
Deaf U | Official Trailer | Netflix
Sound of Metal | Official Trailer | WorldCat
![deaf Not Deaf book cover](https://d2y7ufl8l8ugun.cloudfront.net/cdn/ff/d1v4DNrglv6u5Cgq7T-p2taBUaIHD05irJoc-TKrvbw/1721665654/public/inline-images/deaf%20not%20Deaf.jpg)
![El Deafo book cover](https://d2y7ufl8l8ugun.cloudfront.net/cdn/ff/ka0lTGclPVod9Lg0Tzz8zjkkhvQcjJFD5BkOPAfgp-w/1721666169/public/inline-images/El%20Deafo.jpg)
![Show Me a Sign book cover](https://d2y7ufl8l8ugun.cloudfront.net/cdn/ff/9DbI94UnF_JNpiqJKy7R4dzgCMICdE6N0w0IX4spq7M/1721666037/public/inline-images/Show%20Me%20a%20Sign.jpg)
Terms of use: Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) staff offer these health discussion resources for educational use. The materials included do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the author, publisher, or the sponsoring agencies of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).