Deafness from trauma can occur if the trauma injures the ear. Blows to the head, blows to the ear, or a perforated eardrum can cause deafness or hearing loss by impairing the ear’s ability to function. Injury during birth can sometimes cause hearing loss or deafness. Experiencing a change in air pressure such as barotraumas from diving can cause hearing loss.

A perforated eardrum can be caused by inserting something into the ear canal or even by a loud, sudden noise. Ruptured eardrums due to a loud noise is said to be caused by auditory trauma. With some instances of loud noises causing deafness such as near an explosion, the sound may not be the cause the hearing loss. The hearing loss may be due to the sudden change in air pressure. Perforated eardrums often heal on their own without medical treatment. If there is considerable damage to the eardrum, surgery may be required to fix the eardrum.

A fractured skull can damage the structure of the ear and cause hearing loss. The ear has many tiny structures that are necessary for normal hearing. If these structures become damaged, hearing loss or deafness is likely. In some cases, the damage can be surgically repaired.

Head trauma can sometimes cause the jaw to become misaligned. This misalignment can cause temporomandibular joint disorder, commonly called TMJ or lockjaw. TMJ can cause hearing loss by interfering with the functioning of the Eustachian tubes or damage to the nerves of the ear.

Trauma is a possible cause of Meniere’s disease. Meniere’s disease is caused by a fluctuation in the amount of fluid in the inner ear. The inner ear is normally filled with fluid. A change in the level of fluid impairs hearing. Meniere’s disease can also impair the person’s sense of balance. This condition can also cause dizziness and tinnitus, or ringing in the ear. There is no cure for Meniere’s disease.

Injury to the cochlea or auditory nerve can cause sensorineural hearing loss. Injury to the inner ear can result from head trauma from car accidents or fights. This type of hearing loss is not able to be repaired surgically.