Are You Experiencing Temporary or Permanent Hearing Loss?

Are you unable to hear as well as you usually do? There are many factors that can contribute to hearing loss, including age-related hearing loss, noise-induced hearing loss, or even viral infections. 

Your hearing loss could be temporary or permanent, based on how it was caused.

If You Experienced Sudden Hearing Loss, Get Treated Immediately.

If you have quickly, or suddenly, lost your hearing in one or both ears - and you cannot narrow it down to any clear causes - seek medical attention as soon as possible. You might have harmful inflammation that can be treated with steroids. If you wait too long, or do not seek medical treatment, the hearing loss could become permanent. 

Do You Need to Seek Medical Treatment as Soon as Possible?   

Follow this checklist as a guide for knowing whether you need immediate medical treatment:

• Were you recently exposed to many hours of loud noise? (Did you attend a live concert, see a fireworks display, or use heavy power tools/machinery?)
• Did you recently have a cold or an ear infection?
• Did you recently engage in very strenuous activities or exercise?
• Are you currently, or have you been under great stress?

If you responded “No” to each of these questions, it might be sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL), which immediately needs to be checked out by a medical professional.  

Frequent Causes of Temporary Hearing Loss

Overall, temporary hearing loss does not just abruptly occur. It happens slowly in a span of days or weeks by the time you notice it. Temporary hearing loss could be caused by a blockage located in your ear canal, or a similar health-related condition. Here are some possible cause:

An Ear Infection 

In some cases, a lousy cold can lead to an ear infection. This could then lead to muffled hearing. This particular condition usually occurs in children, but it can happen at any age. Ear infections tend to heal on their own, but you should see your healthcare provider if the infection needs to be treated with an antibiotic.      
 
Excess Earwax

The tiny hairs and glands located inside your inner ear create cerumen, A.K.A. earwax. Your earwax should naturally fall out of your ears, or by gently washing your ears. In many cases, it will build up and obstruct your ear canals. When this occurs, your ears may feel plugged, you might experience tinnitus, or some loss in your hearing. If the wax cannot gently be removed, with a warm washcloth or an earwax removal kit, consult a hearing healthcare provider or your doctor. Do not use sharp objects or cotton swabs to remove the wax. These items may push the earwax deeper into the canal which could puncture the eardrum.

Vigorous Exercises or Stress 

Did you know that certain exercise routines can induce hearing loss or tinnitus? Overexerting yourself well past your personal fitness level could result in temporary hearing loss. Usually in these instances, your hearing should go back to normal within a few hours. See your healthcare professional if the symptoms linger. Severe stress can also lead to issues with hearing and tinnitus. 

Blaring Noises

It is very common to temporarily lose your sense of hearing or suffer from tinnitus after being exposed to loud noise, whether it’s from a rock concert or if you operate a loud power tool. This type of hearing loss is known as noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Your hearing will probably go back to normal after the concert or after you finish using the power tool, but it’s always a good idea to wear earplugs or earmuffs as a precaution. It’s crucial that you do everything possible to prevent hearing damage. Repeated and extensive exposure to loud noises can result in permanent hearing loss.

What are the Prevailing causes of Permanent Hearing Loss?

1. Extensive exposure to loud noises. A single loud burst could temporarily make your hearing worse. Frequent exposure to blasts of sound or other intense noises could result in permanent hearing loss. This is the most prevalent type of sensorineural hearing loss. The term sensorineural means the ears’ nerves and the sensory cells which can easily deteriorate.     
2. Presbycusis (age-related hearing loss). This is a common type of sensorineural hearing loss. When someone reaches the age of 75, they might begin to notice that they cannot hear as well as they used to. This type of hearing loss starts out gradually, so it may not immediately be noticeable. It’s important to get treatment for presbycusis. Hearing aids can not only help you hear better, but they can also diminish risks of dementia, depression and falling. 
3. Health conditions. Some health conditions that can lead to permanent hearing loss include: autoimmune conditions such as Ménière's disease, head trauma, genetic disorders and viral infections like the mumps. There are medications that may also lead to hearing loss.

​If you believe that your ability to hear has changed, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing Aids for a free hearing test and consultation. Our hearing instrument specialists can go over the best treatment options with you. 

Please be aware that Pure Sound services will only be available by appointment and for essential visits at this time. Essential visits include all appointments that require new hearing aid fittings, repairs and re-fittings. If you need a hearing aid repair, we ask that you please wait in your car, while wearing your mask, and place your hearing aids in a clean zip lock bag. We will come to your car to get them. If you are having any issues with your hearing aids, or need supplies for your hearing aids, please call us before visiting one of our offices.  

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