Can colds cause hearing loss? The short answer is yes, but don’t worry — the hearing loss is generally temporary and only lasts the duration of your symptoms. Fluid can build up in your sinuses and ears due to head colds and congestion, leading to hearing loss during cold seasons.
With the cold and flu season upon us, the majority of people are concerned with avoiding the dreadful symptoms and discomfort that come with them.
Congestion in the sinuses and nasal passages is the most common cause of hearing loss linked with a cold or the flu. If you do experience hearing loss, chances are it will go away as soon as you begin to feel better. However, this symptom in particular can cause stress and discomfort.
Continue reading to learn more about how this might happen, how to avoid it, and what to do if you still have hearing loss from a cold or the flu.
According to The American Lung Association, adults will typically get up to four colds every year. Even if most colds are mild viral illnesses, that's a lot. Whether the virus affects the respiratory system, the throat, or the sinuses, it can induce ear congestion and an ear infection in the worst-case scenario. Scientists have proven the link between the common cold and ear infections. This is critical information because ear infections are a significant contributor to the alarming development in antibiotic resistance. Although many people believe colds are harmless, there are a few signs and symptoms you should be aware of.
Because your sinuses and ears are closely related, it's common to suffer from loss of hearing in one ear after a cold. This feeling usually comes and goes if you're using a decongestant and emptying fluids. However, congestion can evolve into an ear infection in only a few hours, and you may have muffled hearing in one ear after a cold. This is why, if you suffer any pain or abnormal discharge in your ear, you should always seek expert care.
Ear pain is a symptom that your hearing loss from a cold is progressing in the wrong direction, as it indicates inflammation and infection. If ignored, it can cause scarring on the eardrum and cilia damage due to inflammation. If you acquire a prescription for antibiotics early enough, you can avoid lasting harm. Hearing problems are usually only temporary when you have a cold. However, an injury to the eardrum or cilia can cause lifelong hearing loss, leading to other health issues.
Severe or chronic hearing loss might be an indication of "sensorineural hearing loss." This indicates that the virus causing your other cold or flu-like symptoms has spread to your ear, creating swelling around the nerve that carries the ear's signals. The nerve is briefly compressed by the swelling, resulting in hearing loss. If you don't address your hearing loss, the risk increases that it could become permanent.
Sensorineural hearing loss differs from ordinary hearing loss during a cold in that, rather than merely feeling muffled or clogged up for a short time, you have rapidly onset hearing loss in one or both ears. The nerves are physically dying as they are crushed, and if the problem is left untreated for too long, it may be irreparable. Sensorineural hearing loss is sometimes confused with conductive hearing loss, a transient and readily curable kind of hearing loss that happens when earwax blocks the ear canal or when an infection causes a brief fluid buildup.
If you've come down with a cold, your eustachian tubes (tubes that connect your middle ear and your nose) can end up getting clogged, making you feel blocked or pressure in your ear. This blockage can show itself as earache, dizziness, and muffled hearing. Cold blockage usually goes away when the swelling from the cold goes down.
If your eustachian tubes are blocked, try swallowing, yawning, or eating sugar-free gum to open them. If it doesn't work, take a big breath and softly blow out of your nose while squeezing your nostrils tight and closing your lips. You'll know you've succeeded if you hear a popping sound.
Here are a few other common cold hearing loss treatment solutions:
Contact your doctor if your symptoms are severe or linger for longer than two weeks.
Naturally, the best way to avoid hearing loss from a cold or flu is to avoid catching the bug in the first place. But of course, everyone catches a cold at some point. During the cold season, there are a few things you can do to reduce your chances of hearing loss due to a cold:
If you catch a cold virus or the flu, consult your doctor for antiviral medication or antibiotics or to determine which decongestants will work best for you. To reduce symptoms, get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids, and follow your doctor's advice.
There's a reason ear discomfort or signs of an ear infection are considered an emergency by most health insurance carriers. Schedule a hearing test if you experience ear discomfort during or after a cold. When you get a hearing test, you’ll learn more about:
A blockage in the ear can cause pain or temporary hearing loss, which a professional examination can detect. If you've had hearing loss from a cold or are experiencing ear discomfort, it's a solid indicator that you should seek medical help.
While most colds only lead to temporary hearing loss, it could become permanent if left untreated. If you’re suffering from any type of hearing loss, contact EarPros to find the best hearing aids for your lifestyle. Your hearing should be trusted only to a licensed hearing professional, so schedule your hearing exam with EarPros and begin your journey to better hearing today.
