The hearing loss may not be correctable. The goal of treatment is to heal the injury and protect the ear from further damage.
A hearing aid may help the person communicate. Coping skills such as lip-reading can be learned.
Expectations (prognosis):
Hearing loss may be permanent in the affected ear. Ear protection may prevent the hearing loss from worsening.
Complications:
Progressive hearing loss is the main complication of acoustic trauma.
Calling your health care provider:
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms are suggestive of acoustic trauma, or any time that hearing loss occurs or worsens.
Review Date: 10/25/2004
Reviewed By: Kevin Fung, M.D., FRCS(C), Department of Otolaryngology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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