Over the years of working in a loud environment of manufacturing, I was required to take a annual hearing test. It was explained to me that the overall baseline hearing level can vary as much as 10 decibels over short periods of time for no particular reason. As Elizabeth stated, the eustachian tubes in your ears can become plugged, or partially plugged and can wreak havoc with your hearing including hyper sensitivity to sharp quick sounds which occur around you throughout the day. Fluid behind the eardrum can also be quite nasty.