(D) About 16 million
people in the United States have lost some of their hearing. About two million
others are extremely or completely deaf. They cannot hear speech or most other
sounds in their everyday life, even with a hearing aid to make sounds
louder. There are several kinds of hearing loss. The first kind
results from disease or injury to the outer or middle part of the ear. The
damage prevents sound waves from reaching the inner ear. Usually, this form of
hearing loss is not extreme. And a hearing aid or medical treatment can often
restore hearing. A second kind of hearing loss involves the nerves (神经). It is
caused by damage to the inner ear. A loud noise or disease may destroy some of
the tiny nerve cells that carry sound. People suffering this kind of damage may
lose the ability to hear some sounds, high or low. The third kind of deafness is
called a central hearing loss. It is caused by damage to the hearing nerves
leading to the brain or in the brain itself. Deafness is the
most common bodily disability (残疾) in America. Often nothing can be done to stop
it. But many cases can be prevented. One simple thing is responsible for most
hearing loss. That one thing is noise. Telephone bells, loud
music, machines. In industrial countries, especially, these things
make the world very noisy. Studies have shown that old men in quiet African
villages have much better hearing than young people in America. Other sources of
deafness. include accidents, drugs and illnesses. Which of the following statements is NOT true
A. Deafness is very common in America.
B. Hearing nerves are most important to one’s hearing.
C. There are different causes of hearing loss.
D. Hearing aids can always help deaf people hear clearly.