We normally think of hearing loss as something that develops slowly. This can make the symptoms easy to miss. It’s nothing to worry about, you just need the volume on the TV a bit louder, no big deal, right? That’s usually the situation, yes, but not always. It turns out hearing loss can also happen suddenly and without much warning.
It can be quite alarming when the state of your health suddenly changes. When people’s hair falls out gradually over a really long period of time, for instance, they would probably just blame it on aging and simply assume they’re balding. But if all of your hair fell out in a single day, you would likely feel compelled to make a doctor’s appointment as soon as possible (and rightfully so).
When you suddenly develop hearing loss, it’s the same thing. When this takes place, acting fast is crucial.
Sudden hearing loss – what is it?
Sudden hearing loss (sometimes known as sudden deafness or sudden sensorineural hearing loss, or simply SSHL for short) isn’t generally as common as the longer-term kind of hearing loss most individuals encounter. But sudden hearing loss isn’t really rare, either. Every year, 1 in 5000 individuals experience SSHL.
The symptoms of sudden hearing loss usually include the following:
- A loud “popping” noise sometimes occurs right before sudden hearing loss. But this isn’t always the case. It’s possible to experience SSHL without hearing this pop.
- The loss of 30dB or greater with regards to your hearing. That is, the environment sounds 30dB quieter from whatever your earlier baseline had been. You’ll definitely notice the difference, but you will need our help to measure it.
- It might seem as if your ear is plugged up. Or there might be a ringing or buzzing in some instances.
- Sudden hearing loss happens very quickly as the name indicates. Sudden hearing loss happens within a few days or even within a few hours. In most circumstances, the person will wake up and their hearing will suddenly be impaired. Or, they might take a phone call and wonder why they can’t hear the other person talking.
- In 9 out of 10 instances, sudden hearing loss impacts only one ear. That said, it is possible for SSHL to impact both ears.
So, is sudden hearing loss permanent? Actually, within a couple of weeks, hearing will come back for around 50% of people who experience SSHL. However, it’s relevant to note that one key to success is prompt treatment. So you will need to come see us for treatment right away. After you first notice the symptoms, you should wait no longer than 72 hours.
The best thing to do, in most cases, is to treat SSHL as a medical emergency. The longer you wait, the higher your risk of sudden hearing loss becoming permanent.
What’s the cause of sudden hearing loss?
Some of the leading causes of sudden hearing loss include the following:
- Autoimmune disease: Your immune system can, in some cases, begin to view your inner ear as a threat. Sudden hearing loss can definitely be triggered by this autoimmune disease.
- Ongoing exposure to loud noise, such as music: For most individuals, loud sound will cause a progressive decline in hearing. But there may be some circumstances where that hearing loss will occur suddenly.
- Reaction to pain medication: Your risk of developing sudden hearing loss is raised by overuse of opioids.
- Head trauma: The communication between your ears and your brain can be disrupted by a traumatic brain injury.
- Illnesses: Diseases like mumps, measles, meningitis, and multiple sclerosis have all been known to cause SSHL, for very different reasons. So if a disease has a vaccine, it’s a smart plan to get immunized.
- Genetic predisposition: In some cases, an increased risk of sudden hearing loss can be passed down from parents to children.
- A reaction to drugs: Common drugs like aspirin are included in this list. This list can also include certain antibiotics, like streptomycin and gentamicin, and other common medicines including cisplatin and quinine.
- Problems with your blood flow: Things like blocked cochlear arteries and high platelet counts are included in this category.
The majority of the time, we will be better able to help you develop an effective treatment if we can figure out what type of sudden hearing loss you’re dealing with. But sometimes it doesn’t work that way. Numerous kinds of SSHL are treated similarly, so determining the exact cause is not always necessary for successful treatment.
What should you do if you have sudden hearing loss?
So what action should you take if you wake up one day and discover that your hearing is gone? Well, there are some essential steps you should take immediately. Never just try to wait it out. That’s not a good idea! You should wait no longer than 72 hours to seek treatment. It’s best to schedule an appointment with us right away. We’ll be able to help you figure out what happened and help you find the best course of treatment.
We will probably perform an audiogram in our office to identify your level of hearing loss (this is a totally non-invasive test where you put on some headphones and raise your hand when you hear a tone). We can make certain you don’t have a blockage or a conductive issue.
For most patients, the first course of treatment will most likely include steroids. An injection of these steroids directly into the ear is in some cases required. In other situations, pills may be able to generate the desired effects. Steroids have proven to be quite effective in treating SSHL with a wide variety of root causes (or with no confirmed root cause). You may need to take a medication to suppress your immune response if your SSHL is caused by an autoimmune disease.
Have you or someone you know suddenly lost the ability to hear? Give us a call today to schedule a hearing assessment.