Fluctuating Hearing Loss

Everything You Need to Know About Fluctuating Hearing Loss

If you’ve ever woken up and noticed your hearing seems muffled, only for it to improve the next day, you may be experiencing fluctuating hearing loss. Unlike permanent hearing loss which remains stable over time, fluctuating hearing loss comes and goes. It can be frustrating and unpredictable for those experiencing it, affecting conversations, work, and daily activities.

In this helpful blog, we’ll explore everything you need to know about fluctuating hearing loss, from its causes to symptoms and treatment. With a greater understanding of the condition, you can take control and protect your hearing health. Let’s dive in!

What is Fluctuating Hearing Loss?

Unlike progressive hearing loss where your hearing gets worse over time, fluctuating hearing loss is hearing loss that comes and goes.¹ It can occur in adults and children, as well as those who don’t usually have challenges with their hearing or in people who already have hearing loss.²

The fluctuations in hearing can happen daily, weekly, or more sporadically, affecting one or both ears.³ The condition can also range from mild to severe and may sometimes cause permanent hearing changes.⁴

Causes of Fluctuating Hearing Loss

Fluctuating hearing loss can occur for a number of reasons. The most common causes of the condition, include:

• Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease (AIED): this condition can lead to varying degrees of hearing loss over time.⁵
• Ménière’s disease: this disorder affects the inner ear and can lead to hearing changes.⁶
• Earwax buildup: the accumulation of earwax can intermittently affect hearing until the wax has been removed.⁵
• Noise exposure: exposure to loud noises can cause temporary or permanent changes in hearing.²
• Ear infections: repeated ear infections can temporarily affect one’s hearing capabilities, leading to fluctuations.⁵
• Hormonal changes: fluctuations in hormones during pregnancy or menopause can affect inner ear function, leading to hearing changes.⁵

Symptoms of Fluctuating Hearing Loss

The key symptom of fluctuating hearing loss is inconsistent changes in hearing ability.⁶ Other symptoms experienced may include:

• Difficulty hearing in noisy environments
• Sudden muffled or distorted sound
• Tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ears)
• A sensation of ear fullness or pressure
• Dizziness or balance issues, particularly when accompanied with conditions like Ménière’s disease

Management and Treatment

When it comes to treating fluctuating hearing loss, early intervention is the best strategy.¹ By identifying the underlying cause, you can work to manage and treat fluctuating hearing loss effectively. This may involve:

• Identifying the cause: a hearing care professional can help to determine the underlying reason for your symptoms.
• Medical treatment: if your fluctuating hearing loss is the result of an infection or autoimmune issue, medications or antibiotics may be used.⁷
• Managing triggers: avoid loud noise, reduce stress, and maintain a healthy lifestyle to support ear health.
• Regular hearing check-ups: monitoring your hearing is essential and may help to aid early detection and proper management of conditions like fluctuating hearing loss.

Though the unpredictability of fluctuating hearing loss can be frustrating for those living with the condition, with professional treatment you can ensure you stay connected to the people, places, and sounds you love.

If you’ve noticed frequent changes in your hearing, don’t ignore them. Book an appointment at your local Connect Hearing clinic today where our friendly team will check your hearing and help you manage any concerns so you can continue to enjoy conversations and the sounds that make life meaningful. 

References:

1. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (n.d.), About the Types of Hearing Loss, www.cdc.gov, accessed 10 February 2025.
2. Ear Hear (30 September 2008), Hearing loss in children and adults, National Library of Medicine, accessed 10 February 2025.
3. Audiology and Neurotology (17 July 2019), Fluctuating Sensorineural Hearing Loss, Audiology and Neurotology, accessed 10 February 2025.
4. Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists of Northern Virginia, P.C. (14 December 2023), What To Know About Fluctuating Hearing Loss, www.entnova.com, accessed 10 February 2025.
5. Oxford Academic (May 2013), Autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss: the otology-rheumatology interface, Rheumatology, accessed 10 February 2025.
6. The Hearing Journal (June 2020), Understanding Fluctuating Hearing Loss, National Library of Medicine, accessed 10 February 2025.