People can suffer from hearing loss or impairment due to things such as aging, neurological conditions or trauma.

Aging

Minor decreases in hearing are normal after age 20. It usually comes on gradually, and it rarely ends in complete deafness. Hearing loss due to aging is progressive, beginning with high-frequency sounds such as speech. Many times, the person will notice symptoms such as difficulty hearing speech.

Emergencies

Ear emergencies, however, may be more permanent and can include perforation of the eardrum, skull fracture, pressure change or acoustic trauma from noise.

Temporary Hearing Loss

There are many things that can cause temporary hearing loss, including the following.

• The build-up of wax in the ear canal(s)
• Foreign body lodged in the ear canal
• Injury to the head
• Allergy
• Blocked Eustachian tubes
• Scarred or perforated eardrum
• Ear infections
• Reaction to medication

Talk to your doctor if you suspect any symptoms.

The information in this article does not substitute advice or information from your physician. Please consult your doctor for further information on specific medical conditions or symptoms.