Minimal, new hearing loss can occur with several minor problems such
as earwax buildup or trapped fluid in the space behind the eardrum (otitis media with effusion). In both of these cases,
hearing loss usually improves with time or home treatment.
Minimal hearing loss and a feeling of fullness in the ear often
accompanies a viral respiratory illness, such as a cold. As other cold symptoms
improve, hearing usually returns to normal.
As people age, progressive hearing loss becomes more common. There
are many causes of hearing loss in older adults. Two of the most common
are:
- Presbycusis, which causes progressive
difficulty understanding speech, especially in the presence of background
noise.
- Acoustic trauma (noise-induced hearing loss), which
causes partial deafness or ringing in the ears, with the sensation that the
ears are plugged.
In rare cases, a gradual hearing loss, usually in just one ear, can
be a symptom of an
acoustic neuroma, a noncancerous tumor that grows in
the cells covering the
auditory nerve. Other early symptoms of acoustic
neuroma include ringing in the ear, headache, numbness or weakness on one side
of the face, and unsteadiness when walking.
