Is your hearing loss temporary or permanent?

Have you noticed you're not hearing as well as you normally do? There are many causes of hearing loss, from age-related hearing loss to viral infections like mumps.

Depending on the cause, your hearing loss may be temporary or permanent.

Sudden hearing loss? Take action

If you've developed rapid and sudden hearing loss in one or both ears—and you can't rule out any obvious causes listed below—get medical help right away. You may have harmful inflammation that can be treated aggressively with steroids. Without treatment, this hearing loss can become permanent.

Do you need to see a doctor right away?

Here's a checklist to help you know if you should seek prompt medical treatment (but always contact your medical provider for guidance):

• Were you very recently exposed to several hours of loud noise? (such as a live concert, target shooting or industrial machinery)
• Have you recently had a cold or ear infection? 
• Did you recently exercise very strenuously?
• Have you been under extreme stress?

If you answered no to all of these questions, it could be sudden sensorineural hearing loss, which requires prompt medical care. 

Common causes of temporary hearing loss

Most temporary hearing loss doesn't start abruptly, but rather gradually over a few days or weeks before it becomes noticeable. Temporary hearing loss may be the result of an obstruction in your ear canal or a similar heath-related condition. Causes may include:

Ear infection 

Sometimes a bad cold can develop into an ear infection, which can muffle hearing. Although this condition is most common in children, it can occur at any age. And while ear infections typically clear up by themselves, it’s always a good idea to see your doctor just in case yours needs to be treated with an antibiotic.

Excessive earwax

The hair follicles and glands in your inner ear produce cerumen, a substance also known as earwax. Although this wax usually falls out of your ears naturally or with a gentle washing, it sometimes builds up and blocks the ear canal. When this happens, you may feel a sensation that the ear is plugged, hear “ringing” in your ear (also known as tinnitus), or experience some hearing loss. If the wax can’t be removed by gently cleaning with a warm wash cloth, consult your physician. Trying to remove the wax with sharp objects, such as hair pins or cotton swabs, may push it deeper into your ear canal and perforate your ear drum.

Strenuous exercise or stress

Could your exercise routine be causing hearing loss or tinnitus? In a word, yes. When you exercise beyond your fitness level, you may experience temporary hearing loss. While hearing typically returns to normal in a few hours, see your doctor if the symptoms persist. Extreme stress can also trigger hearing problems or tinnitus.

Loud noise

It’s also common to temporarily lose your hearing or experience tinnitus after you’ve been exposed to loud noise, such as at a rock concert or while operating noisy lawn equipment. This is known as noise-induced hearing loss. While your hearing will most likely return to normal afterward, protect yourself by wearing foam ear plugs or ear muffs the next time you’re in a similar situation. Preventing hearing loss is important because repeated exposure to loud blasts can cause permanent hearing loss (see below). 

Common causes of permanent hearing loss

Prolonged exposure to excessive noise

While a single loud blast may temporarily worsen your hearing, repeated exposures to blasts or other loud noises can lead to permanent hearing loss. In fact, this the most common form of sensorineural hearing loss, which is permanent. Sensorineural refers to the ears' nerves and tiny sensory cells that are easily damaged. 

Age-related hearing loss

The other very common type of sensorineural hearing loss is presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss. By age 75, many people will notice they're not hearing as well as they used to. However, the onset is gradual, not sudden. Regardless, treating age-related hearing loss is important, as hearing aids are associated not just with hearing better, but also reducing your risk of health conditions like dementia.

Health conditions

Quite a few health conditions can cause permanent hearing loss, such as genetic disorders, autoimmune conditions, Meniere's disease, viral infections such as mumps, and head trauma. There are even medications that cause hearing loss. Read more about the causes of hearing loss.

Get help for your hearing loss

Regardless, if you suspect your hearing has changed, see your family doctor or hearing health professional. They can determine whether your hearing loss is temporary or permanent and recommend the best course of treatment.