Can you go deaf by hitting a nerve in your ear?

Hitting a nerve in your ear can potentially lead to hearing loss, but it's not the nerve itself that causes deafness. Damage to the ear structures, such as the eardrum, ossicles, or inner ear, can result from trauma, which may affect hearing. In severe cases, trauma can also damage the auditory nerve, leading to permanent hearing loss. However, minor impacts are unlikely to cause deafness.