A fast and rapid loss of hearing that happens within 72 hours is called a sudden hearing loss. For those who are impacted, it can be a terrifying experience, therefore, it’s crucial to get medical help as soon as you can. What you need to know about the signs, causes, and remedies for sudden hearing loss is provided below.
What Leads to a Sudden Loss of Hearing?
Since the cause is still unknown in 85–90% of instances, it is usually idiopathic.
Three potential etiological factors exist vascular, viral, and cochlear membrane rupture.
Perilymph fistulae can spontaneously arise in the oval or round window.
The following are some of the factors that might cause sudden hearing loss:
1) Infections include mumps, herpes zoster, meningitis, encephalitis, to syphilis, Lyme disease, and otitis media.
2) Trauma: Cochlear membranes spontaneously rupture due to head injury, ear surgery, noise trauma, barotraumas (dividing and ascending), etc.
3) Vascular: Thrombosis, embolism, hemorrhage (caused by leukemia), and spasm of the cochlear or labyrinthine artery.
Diabetes, high blood pressure, polycythemia, macroglobulinemia, and sickle cell trait are all risk factors.
4) Substances (alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana), aminoglycosides, analgesics, antimalarials, and loop diuretics are ototoxic medicines.
5) Tumours: carcinomatous neuropathy, acoustic neuroma, and metastases in the cerebellopontine angle.
6) Unrelated conditions: Sarcoidosis, Meniere’s disease, Cogan syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, and Hypothyroidism.
Which Symptoms Point To Sudden Deafness?
- Sudden hearing loss in one ear
- Fullness, stuffiness, or obstructed ears
- Dizziness
- Loss of feeling in the ear’s pinna, the soft portion of the earlobe
- Hearing balance issues or dizziness
- Hearing ringing or tinnitus
- Hearing high-pitched noises poorly or loss of high-frequency hearing
Clinical Factors
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss has the following clinical characteristics:
- It develops over a few days or hours.
- Loss of hearing might be partial or total.
- Although typically just one ear is affected, both may be.
- Tinnitus and a brief episode of vertigo could be present in the patient’s symptoms.
- within one month of hearing loss, upper respiratory infections.
- A thorough history and physical examination that includes audiometry should be used to determine the source of hearing loss.
What Signs Point to Sudden Hearing Loss?
- Lab tests
To confirm the reason, which is suspected based on the history, physical exam, and audiometry results, the following lab tests may be ordered:-
- CBC ESR,
- Syphilis testing
- Diabetes,
- Hypothyroidism
- Blood problems
- lipid profiles
- vestibular tests
- MRI with gadolinium contrast
On suspicion of ACOUSTIC NEUROMA, it is advised.
Even though auditory neuromas account for about 1%–3% of SSNHL cases, 10% of those with them also have SSNHL.
- Perilymph Fistula
An exploratory tympanostomy may be performed when there is a strong suspicion of a perilymph fistula.
What Are Treatments
Depending on the underlying reason, sudden hearing loss may require therapy. However, the cause is frequently not known, and the goal of treatment is to improve hearing.
- Medication to lessen inner ear irritation, such as corticosteroids
- Pure oxygen is inhaled during hyperbaric oxygen therapy in a pressurized chamber.
- Those with permanent hearing loss may be advised to use hearing aids or cochlear implants.
- Therapy or counseling to assist with adjusting to the psychological and emotional repercussions of unexpected hearing loss
Ending Thought
If you have abrupt hearing loss, getting medical help as soon as possible is crucial. Early intervention could improve the chances of a full recovery.
