Have you recently experienced a rapid loss of hearing in one or both of your ears? This is called Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL) and it can occur over a period of up to 72 hours.
It is often accompanied by symptoms such as distortion of sounds, tinnitus, dizziness or imbalance, a blocked or full feeling in the ear, nausea or vomiting, and feelings of anxiety. While it is not a common condition, affecting an estimated 5-20 out of every 100,000 people, it can be distressing and disruptive to the lives of those affected.
Causes of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
While the specific factors that lead to sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) are unknown in about 85-90% of cases, there are a few common causes that have been identified.
One of these is viral infections, which may cause inflammation and damage to the auditory nerve and inner ear. It’s possible that you may have had other symptoms of a virus, such as fever or muscle cramping, but sometimes the only sign of an infection may be an upper respiratory issue.
Abnormal blood flow to the inner ear is another possible cause of sudden deafness. Conditions like high blood pressure or hardening of the arteries can lead to issues like bleeding in the cochlea or insufficient blood flow, which can affect your hearing. These conditions are more common in older adults, but women taking birth control pills may also be at risk.
Another possible cause of SSNHL is a tear in the cochlear membrane, which is a part of the inner ear that helps to transmit sound waves. If this membrane is damaged, it can cause the fluids in the inner ear to mix and disrupt the nerve impulses needed for hearing.
Can COVID-19 cause sudden hearing loss?
COVID-19, the novel coronavirus that caused a global pandemic, has been identified as a potential cause of sudden hearing loss in some cases. However, our understanding of this relationship is still evolving and more research is needed to fully understand the extent to which COVID-19 may contribute to hearing loss. It is worth noting that viral infections are generally considered to be one of the more common causes of sudden hearing loss.
5 factors that can affect your recovery from Sudden Hearing Loss
In a recent study by the New York University School of Medicine, researchers studied 40 people with SSNHL and looked at how different factors affected the chances of recovering from sudden hearing loss. They found that most people who came to see them within 24 hours of losing their hearing recovered from their condition, and that earlier treatment or the natural recovery rate may be the reason for this.
Other studies have also found that starting treatment within one month of sudden hearing loss can improve the chances of getting better by about 50%, compared to 25% if treatment is started later.
The main study also found that people with diabetes had a much lower chance of recovering from SSNHL (14.3%) compared to the overall recovery rate (62.5%). It has been suggested that diabetes may cause a vascular event that leads to SSNHL. Additionally, none of the people in their study with a history of high blood pressure recovered from SSNHL.
Previous research has also shown that older age, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol can make it harder to recover from SSNHL, possibly because these conditions lead to problems with blood flow in the cochlea.
Get treated as soon as possible if you’re experiencing symptoms
If you are experiencing sudden sensorineural hearing loss, it’s important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Prompt treatment can increase your chances of recovering your hearing, which is more likely if your hearing loss is mild or moderate and if you receive treatment within the first week. The biggest improvements in hearing often occur within the first 1-2 weeks after the onset of symptoms, but some people may continue to experience improvements over a longer period of time.
Steroids are often used to treat sudden sensorineural hearing loss and can help reduce inflammation and swelling in the cochlea. In some cases, hearing may not fully recover, but it is still important to take care of any remaining hearing and to avoid exposing your ears to loud noises.
If your hearing does not improve, a hearing aid may be recommended to help rehabilitate your hearing loss. Tinnitus may also persist, even if your hearing improves, and finding ways to manage this symptom through relaxation and distraction techniques can be helpful.
Losing your hearing suddenly can be a very scary and confusing experience. It’s important to remember that while about half of patients are able to recover some or all of their hearing, the other half may not be as lucky. That’s why it’s crucial to seek medical attention and continue with treatment to help identify the underlying cause of your hearing loss and find the best course of treatment.
