Some congenital deafness is inherited. If the deafness is caused by a disease such as tympanic membrane perforation or an acoustic neuroma, it is usually not hereditary. Not all congenital deafness is hereditary and requires a medical professional to diagnose in conjunction with the patient’s medical history and ancillary tests. Deafness is categorized into congenital deafness and acquired deafness. Congenital deafness includes hereditary deafness, and hereditary deafness can be passed on to future generations. In addition, if a woman becomes pregnant after contracting syphilis, congenital deafness can also result as the fetus is affected by the virus. However, this condition is not inherited. Acquired deafness is mostly caused by trauma or acquired diseases that damage the ear, causing deafness which is not passed on to the offspring.