Can an ear infection cause bad hearing?

See below: You will have a conductive hearing loss because of the fluid behind the ear drum. Once the infection has resolved, your hearing will return.

Which one: An ear infection could occur in one of 3 sites.The inner ear nerve, which occasionally has viral infections which could cause deafness. The middle ear chamber, which fills with fluid with infection that transiently reduces hearing about 40% but recovers. Or the canal, which develops swimmers ear & minimal transient loss.Chronic untreated middle ear infections could reduce hearing long term.