October is Audiology Awareness Month! Today, let’s raise awareness on a particular type of hearing loss: temporary hearing loss. Many different things can cause temporary hearing loss, and it’s important to know how temporary hearing loss differs from other types of hearing loss. Here is a rundown of what temporary hearing loss is, what can cause it, and what can be done about it.
What Is Temporary Hearing Loss?
As its name suggests, temporary hearing loss is hearing loss that goes away in a short time. In most cases, this type of hearing loss is mild and lasts only a brief period of time. Unlike sensorineural hearing loss, temporary hearing loss is not caused by damage to the hearing nerve or inner ear. Sensorineural hearing loss is typically treated with hearing aids, while temporary hearing loss does not require hearing aids.
Another type of hearing loss, conductive hearing loss, is more closely related to one of the possible causes of temporary hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound waves are not able to carry all the way to the inner ear and is caused by obstructions in the middle or outer ear. One possible cause of conductive hearing loss is a buildup of earwax, which can also cause temporary hearing loss. Not all cases of conductive hearing loss, however, are temporary.
What Causes Temporary Hearing Loss?
Temporary hearing loss can be caused by a few different factors:
- Accumulation of earwax
As mentioned above, a buildup of earwax can cause temporary hearing loss. Earwax is generally beneficial in that it traps dust and other small particles from reaching the eardrum. Most of the time, earwax naturally falls out of the ear canal. However, if earwax becomes stuck or impacted, it can prevent soundwaves from traveling through the ear and result in temporary hearing loss. - Swimmer’s ear
If you’ve gone swimming recently and notice that your ears are itchy, or you experience pain or a feeling of fullness in the ears, you might have swimmer’s ear. Swimmer’s ear is an outer ear infection and often happens when water remains in your ear after you’ve been swimming. Swimmer’s ear can also be caused by scratches or abrasions in your ear canal if you use cotton swabs, fingers, or hairpins to clean your ears. - Middle ear infection
When bacteria-filled fluid enters the middle ear, it can result in infection. An infection in the middle ear can cause a buildup of fluid, which can affect your hearing. Ear infections are particularly common in children and can temporarily affect their hearing ability. - Allergies
One symptom of allergies is a full or clogged feeling in the ears. This can be caused by excess mucus production as your body reacts to an allergic trigger. Excess mucus, as well as inflammation in the middle ear, can block the middle ear, interfere with your sense of hearing, and possibly cause an infection. - Exposure to loud noise
Exposure to extremely loud noises can cause temporary hearing loss. This is because very loud noises (like sitting on the front row at a concert or not using proper ear protection at a shooting range) can damage the sensitive hair cells in your inner ear. - Medication side effects
Certain drugs can cause hearing loss. This is known as ototoxicity and it should be addressed by a doctor immediately.
What Can You Do About Temporary Hearing Loss?
If you experience temporary hearing loss (or hearing loss of any type), it’s best to schedule an appointment with a hearing specialist as soon as possible. The treatment for temporary hearing loss depends on the cause. If the hearing loss is caused by allergies or an ear infection, taking medication for the allergies or ear infection typically clears up the hearing loss as well. Ear drops may be recommended for swimmer’s ear.
If the temporary hearing loss is caused by a buildup of earwax, clearing out the earwax usually restores your hearing ability to normal. In the case of exposure to loud noise, you should avoid loud noises as much as possible. Your hearing may return shortly, but permanent damage may be present. Be sure to use appropriate ear protection in loud, noisy environments to protect your hearing. If a medication is causing your temporary hearing loss, talk to your doctor about changing your medication. In many cases, your hearing ability will be restored once you stop using the medication that causes temporary hearing loss. However, permanent damage is present in some cases, and in others, no alternative medication is available.
For more information about temporary hearing loss and how it can be treated, or if you would like to learn more about audiology (especially during Audiology Awareness Month!), we invite you to contact us today at West River ENT & Allergy.
