Why did George bailey get deaf?

George Bailey, a character from the film "It's a Wonderful Life," becomes deaf in one ear as a result of an incident in his childhood. While saving his younger brother Harry from drowning, he falls and is struck in the ear by a hard object. This injury leads to his permanent hearing loss in that ear, which is a significant aspect of his character's backstory and contributes to his sense of sacrifice and responsibility throughout the film.