Yes - You can go deaf overnight

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL)

Sensorineural hearing loss can happen so quickly. It’s been known to happen overnight.

This sudden hearing loss is caused by damage to the inner ear. The structures in the ear that convert sound waves into electrical signals can be damaged by everything from noise exposure to an infection, such as meningitis.

"Can you go deaf overnight?" is a question that many people have asked themselves. The answer is, yes, and this article discusses what causes deafness and how to prevent it.

What is hearing loss

Deafness can be caused by many different things. They could include: injury to the ear canal, including ear infections that cause the buildup of fluid or wax; exposure to loud noises over time (e.g., rock concerts); placing pressure on the eardrum; problems with the nerve pathways between your ears and your brain (such as from a brain tumor or stroke).

Causes of hearing loss

There are two types of hearing loss: conductive and sensorineural.

Conductive Hearing Loss - It’s caused by damage to the inner ear. The most common cause is from exposure to loud noises (such as gun shots or heavy machinery). The hearing loss is caused by damage to the hair cells in your inner ear, which convert sound waves into electrical signals that travel through your hearing nerve on their way to the brain.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss - It’s caused by damage to the nerve pathways between your ears and your brain (the auditory nerve), or an infection (such as meningitis). SNHL can be temporary or permanent.

Do you have early signs of hearing loss?

There are many early warning signs that you may have hearing loss.

These include:

1. Voices sound muffled or unclear. This may happen when you’re in a noisy environment, such as at a rock concert or while driving with the car radio turned up.
2. You have trouble understanding speech when there are background noises. This is called “sensory overload” and it can often happen when kids have their friends over to play games.
3. You can’t hear certain sounds clearly, such as a dog barking or people whispering. Experts say that you have to understand what’s being said to be able to answer questions in a normal tone of voice.
4. After social events you are worn out. This may be because of the effort you have to expend in order to hear what others are saying.
5. People are repeating themselves more than they used to.
6. You keep asking people to repeat themselves and then finally give up and say “Never mind!
7. Watching people's lips rather than making eye contact.

If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, you may have a hearing loss. A hearing test with your doctor can diagnose it.

How to prevent hearing loss

You’re not helpless against the effects of noise. You can take steps to avoid hearing loss and preserve your senses. Follow these suggestions:

1. Turn the volume down when you’re listening to a stereo or watching television. Be aware that the decibel value in terms of sound intensity at levels above 80 can cause hearing loss.
2. Wear ear protection against excessive noise when you are around machine guns, shotguns, rock concerts and other loud noises.
3. Take precautions at work. Workplaces are often noisy - especially in construction, where scissors and loud machinery is used. If there’s a risk of hearing loss, wear ear protection.
4. Help to prevent hearing loss when you have an ear infection. Ask your doctor if pain in your ear can be relieved by using a decongestant nasal spray or cold tablets. These medications are safe for children as well.
5. If you have a family history of hearing loss, you should see an audiologist. A hearing loss runs through families - especially if both parents had it. It tends to be more severe in the next generation.
6. Your chances of developing age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) go up as you get older, and by the time you are 75 your chances of having some degree of hearing loss are about 50%.
   
   

Are there any natural ways to improve hearing

According to experts at the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, there are natural ways you can improve your hearing. Following these suggestions may help:

1. Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight - acoustical coupling is better in persons with a reasonable body mass index (BMI), so using hearing protection is more effective for this group.
2. Reduce stress by practicing deep breathing exercises; getting enough sleep; enjoying hobbies, taking up yoga or mediating.
3. Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables; drink lots of water; eat oily fish to improve circulation.
4. Try to avoid using tobacco, alcohol, diet pills and recreational drugs, which are believed to diminish your hearing ability.
5. Wear earplugs and/or head phones when you’re listening to music at home, or watch television at night because of the risk of noise induced stress or hearing loss.

Conclusion

Hearing loss is a condition that affects the hearing ability, but it is usually not permanent. In most cases, hearing loss can be treated with hearing aids or surgery. In the meantime, however, there are steps you can take to prevent further damage.

Any damage to the ear canal can cause hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Tinnitus can be caused by hearing problems, such as wax in the ear canal or damage to a nerve in the middle ear. Tinnitus is usually only temporary and goes away on its own.