Dr Chin’s Standpoint on What Is Sudden Hearing Loss and What Causes It? Act Now!
Discover what is sudden hearing loss and what causes it. Learn the critical signs and the importance of acting fast to prevent lifelong hearing loss.
Sudden hearing loss, also known as sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL), is a rapid and unexplained loss of hearing that typically occurs in one ear. This condition is classified as a medical emergency and requires prompt treatment—ideally within 72 hours—to improve the chances of full or partial recovery of hearing.
Understanding Sudden Hearing Loss
SSHL often develops without warning, either instantly or over the span of a few days. Patients may notice muffled sounds, a blocked sensation in the affected ear, or wake up with reduced hearing. Many also report accompanying symptoms like tinnitus, dizziness, or a loss of sense of balance.
Types and Degrees of Hearing Loss
There are several types of hearing loss:
- Sensorineural hearing loss: damage to the inner ear, cochlea, or auditory nerve.
- Conductive hearing loss: blockage in the outer ear, ear canal, or middle ear (e.g., earwax, middle ear infection, or damage to the eardrum).
- Mixed hearing loss: a combination of sensorineural and conductive causes.
Sudden deafness is nearly always sensorineural. An audiogram can help assess the degree of hearing loss, ranging from mild to profound hearing loss.
Common Causes of Sudden Hearing Loss
The causes of sudden hearing loss are often idiopathic, but several medical conditions are associated with it:
- Viral infections (e.g., ear infection or flu-related inflammation)
- Autoimmune diseases
- Vascular disorders affecting blood flow to the inner ear
- Head trauma
- Ototoxic side effects from medications like diuretics or chemotherapy
- Neurologic conditions such as acoustic neuroma
- Elevated high blood pressure or circulation issues
A detailed medical history, physical exam, and tests like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are crucial in identifying the cause of the hearing loss.
Diagnosis and Treatment Options
A throat specialist or otolaryngologist will usually order a hearing test and possibly an MRI to rule out tumors like acoustic neuroma. The clinical practice guideline published by Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg recommends early steroid use.
Steroid Therapy
- Oral steroids (e.g., prednisone) are the first-line treatment.
- Intratympanic steroid injections deliver steroids directly into the middle ear when oral therapy fails or cannot be tolerated.
- Injection of steroids is often paired with oral treatment for better results.
Other Management Options
Depending on the type of hearing loss and recovery, patients may require:
- Hearing aids for residual severe hearing loss
- Cochlear implants for profound hearing loss
- Treatment of underlying issues such as allergies, blockage, or inflammation
Prompt medical attention from a qualified audiologist, otolaryngologist, or healthcare provider can significantly influence the outcome. Ignoring symptoms or delaying care could result in permanent hearing loss.
When to Seek Help
If you experience sudden deafness, ringing in one ear, or a noticeable drop in hearing, seek prompt medical attention. Time is critical—early intervention with steroids or intratympanic injections greatly improves the chances of reversing the hearing loss and preventing long-term damage.
- About the Author
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Dr Ronald Chin is an Australian trained Otolaryngologist Head and Neck Surgeon.
After graduating as a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Dr Chin undertook further specialised training in Head and Neck Cancer at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
He has published many research papers and is an active teacher and scholar.
As part of his subspecialty training, Dr Chin has training in Laser, Da Vinci Robotic, Flex Robotic and complex surgical techniques.
In addition to specialised Head and Neck Cancer, Dr Chin also enjoys general adult and paediatric ENT Surgery and practices sinus, snoring/sleep and general paediatric ENT Surgical procedures.
Dr Ronald Chin works as a general Otolaryngologist, offering a wide range of surgical and non-surgical treatments including ear surgery, nose surgery and throat surgery. He provides treatment for chronic conditions such as tonsillitis, sinus problems and problems with hearing.
He is also involved in the diagnosis and treatment of many conditions such as facial paralysis, head and neck cancer and sleep apnea. As well as performing surgery on children, he also provides specialist care for adults, including the treatment of throat disorders, voice loss and ear problems.
Dr Chin has also served as a Conjoint Associate Professor at the University of Sydney, a Conjoint Associate Professor at Western Sydney University and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Technology Sydney.
