Sudden Hearing Loss

It may seem like a normal day or a normal week to you, when all of a sudden, you wake up and are unable to hear properly; there’s nothing obstructing your ear canal, you haven’t done anything that could influence your hearing, but still you cannot hear properly. Light ENT in Boynton Beach, FL has seen cases of this type of sudden hearing loss before, commonly referred to as Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL). If you believe you are experiencing sudden hearing loss in one ear, or sudden hearing loss in both ears, it should be treated as a serious medical emergency. Explore all the necessary details about SSHL below and get in touch with our ear, nose, and throat specialists immediately.

What Is Sudden Hearing Loss

If you are experiencing sudden hearing loss in one ear or sudden hearing loss in both ears without any sort of pain, it is commonly referred to as Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL). This condition can develop over the course of several days or all at once, and is characterized by a sudden inability to hear (sudden deafness) without any apparent external cause. Patients may also notice that sounds gradually become more muffled or faint in the affected or unaffected ear, and may only discover they have this condition when they attempt to use the affected ear. While it’s possible for patients to initially put off visiting our Light ENT doctors — thinking this condition stems from allergies, a buildup of earwax,  or a sinus infection — it’s critical to seek treatment as soon as possible.

Why SSHL Occurs & Common Causes

As mentioned before, if you suddenly find yourself experiencing sudden hearing loss in one ear with no pain, it can be difficult to determine on your own what could be causing it. It’s important to understand that several sudden hearing loss causes exist and that SSHL can occur as a result of:

• General infections
• Prolonged exposure to loud noise
• Head trauma or head injuries
• Autoimmune diseases
• Neurological disorders
• Disorders of the inner ear

If you believe you have sudden hearing loss in one ear or sudden hearing loss in both ears, regardless of the conditions listed above, it’s critical to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Getting early SSHL treatment from a Light ENT doctor increases your chances of saving your hearing!

Signs & Symptoms of SSHL/Sudden Hearing Loss

According to the National Institute On Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), sudden hearing loss as a result of SSHL can happen to individuals of any age, but commonly affects adults in their late 40’s or early 50’s. This is why our Light ENT specialists recommend taking this condition as seriously as possible and scheduling an appointment with us. Patients who have sudden hearing loss in one ear or both ears may notice a few common signs or symptoms, such as:

• A feeling of ear “fullness”
• Dizziness
• A “ringing” in the ear(s)
• Difficulty following conversations or hearing/understanding others
• Sounds becoming gradually more muffled or faint 
• Abnormal balance issues

Keep in mind, it is also possible for patients to hear a loud “pop” before experiencing sudden hearing loss.

Inside The Diagnosis & Treatment Process

If you suspect you are experiencing sudden hearing loss in one ear or both ears, seeking immediate treatment from Light ENT doctors in Boynton Beach, FL is the best way to definitively determine if SSHL is the correct diagnosis. Your doctors will perform a physical examination and likely perform an audiometry hearing test to test your ability to hear out of both ears. Should SSHL be the diagnosis, your doctor may recommend other tests to determine an underlying cause. However, the most important thing to understand is that early treatment of sudden hearing loss with corticosteroids increases a patient's chances to make a full recovery!