Experiencing sudden deafness can be terrifying, as it’s one our most crucial senses. The type of sudden hearing loss in question is also called sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) and it can occur instantly or gradually, with sound becoming muffled and faint. Typically, symptoms appear as sudden hearing loss in one ear with no pain.
SSHL commonly affects people between the ages of 30–60, with about 4,000 new cases every year in the United States alone.
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We measure hearing loss by looking at the frequency of sound waves. We use decibels to measure the intensity or loudness of sound, with zero being the lowest and close to complete silence. For comparison, a whisper is about 30 decibels, while normal speech is about 60 decibels. The loss of 30 decibels in three connected frequencies is considered SSHL—meaning that, if one were to experience a hearing loss of 30 decibels, regular speech would sound more like a whisper.
Thankfully, most individuals who suffer from SSHL recover when they receive proper diagnosis and treatment, but about 15 percent of people with the condition have hearing loss that gradually gets worse over time.
Symptoms of sudden hearing loss
Sudden hearing loss often occurs without a recognizable cause. You may notice that you’re struggling to hear people. Sudden hearing loss in elderly individuals occurs more frequently when compared to the younger demographic.
Here are some symptoms of SSHL:
- Trouble following group conversations
- Muffled conversation sounds
- Inability to hear well with a lot of background noise
- Balance problems
- Dizziness
- Difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds
- Tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ears)
What causes sudden sensorineural hearing loss?
SSHL is considered an inner ear problem, with the cochlea and the nerve pathway involved in the hearing process playing major roles. These structures become damaged, leading to hearing loss. There are more than 100 different causes of SSHL, and it is difficult for most people to pinpoint exactly what’s causing theirs. The following are some of the common reasons for SSHL to occur:
- Aging
- Abnormal tissue growth and tumors
- Venom from a snake bite
- Lyme disease
- Immune system diseases like Cogan’s syndrome
- Prolonged exposure to loud noise
- Malformation of the inner ear
- Head injury or trauma
- Neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis
- Meniere’s disease
- Ototoxic medication
- Blood circulation problems
- Blood vessel disease
Sensorineural hearing long can also occur at birth, with some babies being born with partial or complete hearing loss. Reasons for this can be:
- Infections that pass from the mother to the fetus
- Toxoplasma gondii—a parasite that passes through the womb
- Genetic or inherited
- Low birth weight
Causes of sudden hearing loss
| Autoimmune | Vascular | Neurological Neoplastic | Trauma or Toxin | Infections and viral |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED) | Cardiopulmonary bypass | Acoustic Neuroma | Large vestibular aqueduct syndrome | Cryptococcal Meningitis |
| Cogan’s syndrome | Red blood cell deformability | Contralateral deafness after acoustic neuroma surgery | Inner ear concussion | Cytomegalovirus |
| Lupus | Sickle cell | Focal pontine ischemia | Inner ear decompression sickness | Herpes-simplex I |
| Meniere’s | Small vessel disease | Leukemia | Otologic surgery | HIV |
| Polyarteritis nodosa | Vascular disease associated with mitochondriopathy | Meningeal carcinomatosis | Ototoxicity | Lassa Fever |
| Relapsing polychondritis | Vertebrobasilar insufficiency | Migraine | Perilymph Fistula | Meningococcal meningitis |
| Ulcerative Colitis | Blood dyscrasias | Multiple sclerosis | Temporal bone fracture | Mumps |
| Wegener’s granulomatosis | Myeloma | CSF leak, such as caused by lumbar puncture | Rubeola, Rubella, syphilis, Toxoplasmosis |
How is sudden hearing loss diagnosed?
Diagnosis begins with your doctor receiving a brief history of proceeding events plus any past medical history that may be relevant. It is important to tell them about any medications that you are currently taking, including herbal remedies. Your doctor will then perform a physical exam that typically involves asking you to cover one ear at a time and listening to various sounds at different volumes. Tuning forks will also be used to test vibrations in the ear and its structures. Damage to the ear will produce an abnormal result and possibly prompt further tests.
Audiometry tests may also be done by a specialist to check hearing more thoroughly. They will try to pinpoint the exact reason for your case of hearing deficiency. The audiologist will use a pair of headphones and test your hearing by playing a series of sounds at varying volumes.
In cases where an abnormal structure inside the ear could be impeding your hearing ability, an MRI scan may be ordered. An MRI will take detailed images of the brain and inner ear structures, possibly identifying tumors or cysts.
Sudden hearing loss treatment tips
Recognizing and diagnosing SSHL early will increase the chances of sudden hearing loss recovery. However, depending on the cause for SSHL, treatment options may vary, with some causes having no treatment at all. Some causes result in excessive inflammation and swelling, leading to hearing loss that benefits the most from steroid treatment. If your SSHL is caused by an infection, antibiotics may be the best course of action.
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Some causes of SSHL will benefit from cochlear implants. It’s important to note that implants do not restore hearing, rather, they amplify sounds to make it easier for you to hear with the hearing ability you still have.
Suddenly losing your hearing ability may be disheartening, but know that about two-thirds of people with SSHL do experience partial recovery of hearing, with some in as little as 10 days. Unfortunately, if diagnosed with SSHL, only about 3.6 percent of people will fully recover their hearing.
Related: Common causes of hearing loss
Emily Lunardo studied medical sociology at York University with a strong focus on the social determinants of health and mental illness. She is a registered Zumba instructor, as well as a Canfit Pro trainer, who teaches fitness classes on a weekly basis. Emily practices healthy habits in her own life as well as helps others with their own personal health goals. Emily joined Bel Marra Health as a health writer in 2013.
