If your child has been complaining that things “sound funny” or has been tugging on their ear a lot, it might be worth considering if they’re experiencing temporary hearing loss. Figuring this out might be tricky, since younger kids might have trouble explaining what the issue is, or, since hearing loss is so hard to point to or look at, you might wonder if your child is exaggerating. Knowing some common reasons why a child could temporarily experience hearing loss can help you get to the bottom of it and treat it.
Ear Infection
The most common reason a child might experience temporary hearing loss is an ear infection. In fact, ear infections are the most common reason parents take their child to the doctor. There are external ear infections, when the skin of the ear canal gets infected—this most often happens when water gets trapped in the ear canal, earning this infection the common name “swimmer’s ear”—and there are middle ear infections, when the middle ear becomes inflamed and fluid builds up behind the eardrum.
The good news is that hearing loss associated with ear infections typically goes away when the infection clears up. You can treat the infection with lots of rest and fluids, warm compresses, and pain relievers (if age-appropriate). Do not insert anything into your child’s ears, and consult your child’s doctor if you need antibiotics or antibiotic ear drops.
Impacted Earwax
Earwax is a natural product that your child’s ear needs to stay clean and hydrated. The ear is self-cleaning, making as much earwax as it needs, shedding old earwax through the ear canal and making new earwax to replace it. If, however, earwax gets pushed back into the ear canal instead of shedding out of the ear, it can build up and cause a blockage. This will cause muffled hearing since sound waves can’t reach the eardrum.
When this happens, do not use a cotton swab to try to remove the earwax. Doing so will actually push the earwax further into your child’s ear canal, worsening the problem. Instead, use earwax softening drops or speak to your child’s doctor about ear irrigation or an earwax removal procedure.
Obstruction in the Ear
Kids are curious and adventurous. As infants, they stick everything into their mouths, and they continue to explore as they get older. Sometimes, they stick things—such as beans, pebbles or small toys—in their ear to see if they fit or change their hearing. While this is normal behavior, it can lead to things getting stuck and causing swelling, infection and temporary hearing loss.
If you suspect your child has something stuck in their ear, call your doctor or visit an emergency room or walk-in clinic immediately. Do not try to remove the object yourself. Medical professionals can determine the best way to remove the object and give you steps to mediate or prevent infection.
Loud Noises
Noise-induced hearing loss is a growing health problem for adults and children. A sudden loud noise may shock the delicate organ of your child’s inner ear and cause temporary hearing loss or tinnitus. Repeated or prolonged exposure to loud noises can even lead to permanent hearing loss.
Try to limit your child’s exposure to loud noises wherever possible. Avoid noisy toys, turn the volume down on the television or on their music player and encourage them to wear hearing protection if you know you’ll be somewhere with high noise levels. If you’re concerned about a recent exposure to loud noise, consider bringing your child in for a hearing test to ascertain what damage was done, if any. Valley Audiology can help you and your child recover from temporary hearing loss and prevent any permanent damage.