How long is it supposed to it take for an ear infection to cause permanent hearing loss in my 6 month old?

Depends: During any ear infection a kid will have temporary reduction in hearing due to the muck in the ear for up to 4-6 wks. If the infection & muck is not cleared out within 90 days that muck can turn to a glue like material.Some infections clear without meds, some benefit from having the muck removed & ventilation tubes placed. Most hearing will return to baseline if the ear bones don't stick together.

Never: Permament hearing loss from routine ear infections (or recurrent/chronic ear infections) is rare. If there is a concern for a permanent hearing loss after a routine ear infection... Look for something else as the cause. If your child has an ear infection... Be seen by your pediatrician/family doc... Get it treated and all should be well. If there is ever a concern about hearing loss... See an ent.

very rare: Permanent hearing loss is a very, very rare complication from an ear infection and not related to the length of the infection. Hearing loss from ear infections is almost always temporary from fluid behind the ear drum. It is not likely that your 6 month old will develop permanent hearing loss from an ear infection.