Temporary hearing impairment leads to ‘lazy ear’

Brain rewiring after ear infections may cause long-term hearing problems, rat study shows

Some folks who don’t seem to listen may just have a lazy ear. A new study in rats shows that short-term hearing impairments at any stage of life can lead to rewiring in the part of the brain that processes sounds, making the ear seem as if it is loafing on its duty to make sense from noise.