A blow, cut, or other trauma to the ear or ear
canal. This may cause bleeding and infection, which can result in temporary
hearing loss. A trauma may also damage the inner ear or cochlea, which can
result in permanent or temporary hearing loss.
A sudden, dramatic
change in air pressure, such as occurs in scuba diving or air travel. This may
put too much stress on the eardrum or other middle ear structures, resulting in
bleeding or fluid imbalance in the middle and inner ear. This type of injury is
A blow to the head. A blow may change the
position (dislocation) of the three bones of the middle ear (ossicle
dislocation), resulting in sound not being sent to the inner ear. A head injury
may also cause a
ruptured eardrum (tympanic membrane perforation). Or a
forceful blow to the head may damage the delicate nerves in the cochlea or in
A sudden, extremely loud noise (such as an explosion,
gunshot, or firecracker), which can damage any of the structures in the ear,
causing immediate and permanent hearing loss. This is called acoustic trauma.
Injuries to the ear sometimes heal on their own, and sometimes
surgery can repair the damage. In both cases, your hearing may return. However,
severe injuries may cause permanent damage in your ear, resulting in permanent
In this article
This information is produced and provided by the National
Institute (NCI). The information in this topic may have changed since it was written. For the most current information, contact the National
Institute via the Internet web site at http://
.gov or call 1-800-4-CANCER.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
April 08, 2013
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor.
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