Sudden Loss of Hearing

In most cases, hearing loss can be attributed to an infection in the ear canal, generally in the middle ear where the eardrum is located. An infection creates fluid in the ear which does not allow the eardrum to vibrate from incoming sound. This will then create hearing loss. In addition to this, an infection also disables the bones of the middle ear from vibrating which in turn does not allow mechanical impulses to enter the inner ear and the auditory nerve fibers.

Another way hearing loss can be sudden is due to a buildup of wax, or cerumen, in the ear. The purpose of cerumen is to prevent debris from entering the ear. In this case, more is not better. In fact, it causes a blockage of sound waves from making their way through the auditory system, resulting in a degree of hearing loss. Although this may be a temporary condition, never the less, the person’s ability to hear is greatly reduced.

Whether the cause of hearing loss is excessive earwax or an infection, it must be treated immediately. Especially in the case of an infection, if gone untreated, damage to the ear can occur resulting in permanent hearing loss.

Where children are concerned, ear infection and hearing loss may not be easily recognized, particularly with very young children. The child may display some discomfort by crying a lot, but if they can’t talk yet you may not know what the cause of the discomfort is. This is where body language will come into play. If you notice your child is frequently pulling or scratching at the ear, its a universal sign of probable infection. Additionally, fever may or may not be present. A delay in treatment can result in developmental delays in speech and other learning disabilities.

Other signs your child may display are irritability, fatigue, inability to pay attention and having the television sound turned up dramatically.

Hereditary factors:

Hearing loss passed from generation to generation is also known as congenital hearing loss and is present at the time of birth. This can also occur if an infection was present during pregnancy such as rubella, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and toxemia as well as the lack of oxygen to the fetus during the delivery.

Age, head trauma and prolonged exposure to excessive noise are causes for Acquired Hearing Loss. Whether it is a child or an adult, a patient can often go for months without realizing a problem with their hearing actually exists.

In an adult suffering from hearing loss, complaints of not being able to hear or understand speech are quite common as well as having to have conversations constantly repeated. Whether the patient is an adult or child, diagnosis and proper treatment must be sought by a professional healthcare provider. A specialist may be required for further in depth testing and possibly a hearing aid fitting. In either case, the main focus is to detect the cause of the loss and treat it in order to restore the hearing that has been lost.