Do childhood earaches cause hearing loss later in life?

Recurrent ear infections during childhood can sometimes lead to chronic hearing loss. If an infection is suspected, the child should be seen by a physician for appropriate treatment.Ear infections are common in childhood.Some kids do have temporary hearing loss due to the build up of fluid in the middle ear, but it usually goes away with treatment.

It’s very rare, however, for kids to develop permanent hearing loss, even when they’ve had several ear infections. A child with frequent or chronic ear infections is at risk for permanent hearing loss only when damage has been done to the eardrum, the bones of the ear, or the hearing nerve.

If your hearing appears to return to normal after treatment for an ear infection,then you are probably not at risk for permanent hearing loss. But if you’re concerned, talk to your doctor about scheduling a hearing exam.

If yourear infections continue to be a problem, the doctor might refer her to an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor), who may suggest ear tube placement to help reduce the number of ear infections, and limit the hearing problems they may cause.

Credit:https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/ears-hearing.html