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.
As further evidence, the researchers found large amounts of overactive mTOR in the postmortem brain tissue of the individuals with autism. Though hundreds of genes have been linked to autism, the researcher conclude, many if not most of them may affect this mTOR/autophagy pathway.