What Causes Temporary Hearing Loss?

Not all hearing loss is permanent. Sometimes hearing loss may only last for a few weeks or a few days. This temporary hearing loss can have a number of causes. Below are just a few possible causes of temporary hearing loss.

Earwax

Too much earwax in your ear canal could cause a blockage, which could result in reduced hearing. There are many reasons as to why ears can become blocked with earwax. A common cause is using cotton swabs – quite often cotton swabs push earwax further into the ear rather than helping to remove it, which can lead to earwax becoming impacted. Illnesses and injuries affecting the ears may also result in overproduction of earwax, leading to blockages.

You can treat this temporary hearing loss by finding a way to unclog your ears. Ear drops may be a solution, or you could look into professional ear irrigation. An audiologist may be able to recommend other treatment options.

Infections

An infection within your ear could also lead to temporary hearing loss. Viruses, bacteria and fungus can cause the ear canal to become inflamed and narrow, as well as causing fluid build-up in the sinuses behind the ear. This can lead to muffled hearing as less soundwaves are able to travel through the ear canal.

An infection may clear up on its own, however many ear infections require medication. It is best to see a doctor rather than an audiologist when treating an infection.

Noise Exposure

After being in a loud environment for an extended period of time you may experience ringing in your ears and temporary hearing loss. This should subside within 16 to 48 hours.

Prolonged noise exposure can cause long-term damage, but this can be reduced by resting your ears after long periods of noise. Try to stick to quiet environments after being in a loud environment for long periods. To reduce further damage from noise exposure, make sure to wear earplugs in the future whenever you are in a loud environment. If hearing loss persists, it may be a sign that it has become permanent, and you may want to see an audiologist about getting a hearing aid fitted.

Medication

Some people report experiencing mild hearing loss after taking certain medication such as ibuprofen or aspirin. This hearing loss is usually temporary until the effects of the medication have worn off. As with noise exposure, tinnitus may also accompany this hearing loss.

You should be wary of regularly taking medication that causes hearing loss. There are cases where medication has caused people permanent hearing loss – by no longer taking medication that causes temporary hearing loss, you can reduce the risk of hearing loss becoming permanent. A doctor may be able to recommend alternative medication. If hearing loss does become permanent, you may want to see an audiologist about getting a hearing aid fitted.

Talk to your audiologist about the different types of treatment options. They will be able to get you the best treatment for your needs and the type of hearing loss you have!