At first glance, it’s easy to tell the difference between sudden hearing loss and gradual hearing loss: one happens quickly and dramatically, and the other happens over months or years. However, there are some key differences in how these two types of hearing loss manifest, and these differences inform what actions you should take in response.
Sudden Hearing Loss
Sudden hearing loss is typically rather abrupt, happening instantaneously or over the course of a couple of hours or days. It often occurs in only one ear, but it can occur in both. It may also be accompanied by your ears popping, a feeling of fullness, pressure or blockage in the ear, or even ringing in the ear.
Common Causes of Sudden Hearing Loss
One key differentiator of sudden hearing loss is that, in most cases, the cause is unexplained. It’s estimated that only 10% of people with sudden hearing loss have an identifiable cause. That said, here are some things that can cause sudden hearing loss:
- Earwax blockage
- Ear infection
- Upper respiratory infection
- Exposure to loud noise
- Head injury or trauma
- Neck injury or trauma
- Tumors (both benign and malignant)
- Cardiovascular issues
- Autoimmune disorders
- Neurological disorders
What to Do If You Notice Sudden Hearing Loss
If you lose your hearing rapidly, it’s imperative that you seek medical attention as soon as possible. While many cases of sudden hearing loss are temporary and hearing returns to normal after some time, it could also indicate a more serious underlying issue.
Gradual Hearing Loss
Gradual hearing loss occurs over weeks, months or years. Sometimes, hearing loss happens so gradually that you don’t even notice it’s occurring until it has progressed extensively. Signs of gradual hearing loss include frequently asking people to repeat themselves and having difficulty hearing speech in noisy environments.
Common Causes of Gradual Hearing Loss
This type of hearing loss is most commonly associated with presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss, but it is also prevalent with exposure to loud noise, especially if you work or live in a noisy environment and are immersed in it for extended periods.
What to Do If You Notice Gradual Hearing Loss
As mentioned above, sometimes it’s hard to notice gradual hearing loss at first because it happens so slowly. Our brains are good at adapting to gaps in information, so the brain will make up for and justify any hearing shortcomings subconsciously.
If you’ve noticed signs of gradual hearing loss, or if a loved one has told you that they’ve noticed gaps in your hearing, your next step is a hearing test to determine how far it has progressed and start a conversation about hearing loss treatment.
To schedule a hearing test appointment for either sudden or gradual hearing loss, call Valley Audiology today. Our friendly office staff will be happy to get you on the calendar.