Yes, the brain can adjust to hearing loss. When hearing loss occurs, the brain needs to adapt to the new environment. Hearing loss can be sudden or gradual, but in either case, the brain must learn to process the new signals it is receiving.
When hearing loss happens suddenly, the brain is faced with a rapid change in the environment. It must quickly adjust to the new information it is receiving, and may take some time to fully adjust. Depending on the severity of the hearing loss, the brain may use different strategies to try to compensate for the changes. In some cases, it may take advantage of other senses, such as vision, to make up for the lack of auditory information.
When hearing loss occurs gradually, the brain has more time to adjust. It can adapt its strategies for processing sound over time, as the hearing loss becomes more severe. It may also become more sensitive to certain sounds, such as higher frequencies, as the loss progresses.
The brain can also adjust to hearing loss in terms of its emotional response. It may become less sensitive to sound, or more easily overwhelmed by sounds it perceives as loud. It may also become more sensitive to certain sound patterns, such as speech, as it learns to focus on the information it can receive.
Overall, the brain can and does adjust to hearing loss. With time, it can develop new strategies for processing sound and become more adept at focusing on the information it can still receive.