1 Shingles in caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox-varicella-zoster virus. 2  Shingles is a painful infection of the nerve supplying an area of skin and is accompanied by a localised skin rash. 3  Older people and those with a weakened immune system are at greater risk for developing shingles.
Hearing loss, also known as hard of hearing, anacusis or hearing impairment, is a partial or total inability to hear. It may occur in one or both ears. In children hearing problems can affect the ability to learn language and in adults it can cause work related difficulties.
Sudden hearing loss, the rapid loss of 30 decibels or more of hearing ability, can happen over several hours or up to 3 days. (A normal conversation is 60 decibels.) Sudden hearing loss usually affects only one ear. Although there are up to 3 new cases per every 10,000 people each year, doctors are not able to discover the cause in most cases. Illnesses such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes put ears at risk by interfering with the ears' blood supply.