Sudden hearing loss need not always be sudden, however, & can also occur gradually, until the hearing is completely lost in one or both the ears.
Sudden hearing loss should be considered a medical emergency, needing immediate attention of experts & specialists.
Most times, people who develop sudden hearing loss hesitate to go to the doctor as they believe it will clear up on its own time. However, this is a dangerous assumption to make & the more you delay your visit to the doctor, the less the treatments of sudden hearing loss will be effective.
Most people who develop sudden hearing loss, do so in only one ear. Rarely enough, however, sudden hearing loss in both the ears is also seen.
Diagnosis of Sudden Hearing Loss
Sudden hearing loss is diagnosed using a standard hearing test called Pure Tone Audiometry. This test determines if the hearing loss is caused by an obstruction in the path of sound waves like inner ear fluid, ear wax, tumours, etc., or if it is caused by neurological issues. This test can also determine the amount of hearing loss in decibels.
If the test logs a loss of at least 30 decibels in three connected frequencies, then the patient is diagnosed as suffering from Sudden Hearing Loss.
To make it clear for the layman reader to understand, a loss of 30 decibels in hearing frequency will make conversations on a regular pitch sound more like a whisper.
Most people with sudden hearing loss notice the loss of hearing when they wake up in the morning one day.
Some others, however, discover their hearing loss when they try to use the deafened ear while talking on phones or any other thing.
Some people with sudden hearing loss also report hearing a loud ‘pop’ like sound just before they notice their hearing loss.
Often, people who report to hospitals with sudden hearing loss also complain of feeling dizzy & a loud ringing noise in their ears also called tinnitus.
This happens as a result of the neurological disturbances in the balance centre that is located in the inner ear. When a person experiences sudden hearing loss, their balance centre also gets disoriented, thus leading to sensations of spinning, a loss of balance, & feelings of dizziness.
Causes of Sudden Hearing Loss
In most cases of Sudden hearing loss, close to approximately 85%, there is no proper identifiable cause. Only about 10-15% of patients with sudden hearing loss have a known cause.
These known causes of sudden hearing loss include:
Certain infectious diseases that affect the inner ear
Trauma from a head injury
Autoimmune diseases like Cogan’s syndrome
Taking an overdose of ototoxic drugs, which are drugs that harm the sensory nerves in the inner ear
Blood circulation issues
A tumour on the nerve connecting the ear to the brain
Certain neurological disorders like Multiple Sclerosis, and
Inner ear diseases like Meniere’s Disease
Treatment of Sudden Hearing Loss
The most common treatment of sudden hearing loss, especially in cases where the cause of the hearing loss is unexplainable, is corticosteroids.
Steroids are commonly used by medical practitioners to treat various types of disease & disorders.
Steroids help by reducing inflammation in the body, decreasing swelling, & aiding the body’s immune system to fight back in most cases of viral infections.
While steroids are usually prescribed in the form of a pill, direct injection based steroids therapy called intratympanic corticosteroid therapy, has also become popular in recent years.
In this, the corticosteroids are injected in liquid format behind the eardrum into the middle ear, where they travel into the inner ear & reduce any inflammation.
Intratympanic corticosteroid therapy may also be beneficial for patients who are otherwise unable to take oral steroids.
Depending on your exact diagnosis, your doctor will prescribe an adequate treatment plan that can help restore the sudden hearing loss.
Trusting the right specialists & experts with your condition is the first step to take in order to help restore your sudden hearing loss. At Vertigo and Ear Clinic, we have a dedicated team of Vertigo & ear specialists that accurately diagnose, treat, & manage your conditions.
We utilize a slew of innovative technology, experience, & expertise to help make each of our patients’ lives better.
Learn more about the treatment of sudden hearing loss here.
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Click For BPPV Vertigo Book
Inputs from the eyes, inner ears and proprioceptive
system maintains the balance system of our body.
These three systems send signals to the brain for proper co-ordination and
maintenance of balance. A neurotological evaluation encompasses an evaluation
of functioning and co-ordination of these systems. Any disturbance in the
harmonious and regular functioning of these systems is Balance Disorder and is diagnosed by our
neurotological team.- Electronystagmography
(ENG) - This is an investigation to evaluate the vestibulo ocular reflex
(VOR) which is involved in maintenance of balance. Recording of the
following tests are done to evaluate peripheral and central vestibular
function:
- Spontaneous
nystagmus
- Gaze
evoked nystagmus
- Saccades
- Pendulum
test
- Optokinetic
stimulation
- Caloric
stimulation
- Fistula
test
- Craniocorpography
with SLR camera - This is a test is evaluate the vestibulospinal reflex
which is responsible for maintenance of balance during motion. We do
various tests including:
- Romberg
test
- Sharpened
Romberg test
- Tandem
walking
- Displacement
- Sway
- Angle of deviation
- Body axis spin
