How do I solve 17 down in Express Cryptic 20260520?

Question

Accepted Answer

17 down reads "Sense fad had become inability to hear" (8 letters); the answer is DEAFNESS. It's an anagram clue: the answer is a rearrangement of letters supplied by the clue itself. Look for an indicator like 'mixed', 'broken', 'cooked', or 'wild', and find a phrase whose letters add up to the answer's length. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

Sense fad had become inability to hear (8)

17D — Sense fad had become inability to hear (8) — DEAFNESS