Usually, hearing loss that is called sensorineural or nerve deafness is actually caused by problems with the cochlea, instead of the actual auditory nerve, but a very small percentage of hearing loss is caused by problems with the nerve, itself ... usually related to acoustic neuromas (tumors) on the nerve covering.
Aug. 16, 2006 - New research is challenging the long-held belief that autism autism affects only those regions of the brain that control social interaction, communication, and reasoning -- suggesting, instead, that the disorder affects the entire brain.
Collectively, MRI and head circumference studies have given rise to a new hypothesis: autism involves three phases of early brain growth pathology. 1  Early brain overgrowth at the beginning of life. 2  Slowing or arrest of growth during early childhood.