What Is Sudden Deafness?
Sudden deafness or hearing loss is also known as sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Sudden deafness usually affects only one ear, which is unilateral deafness, this type of hearing loss presents a unique problem like the inability to identify where the sound is coming from.
Usually, hearing loss takes time to happen and does not arise suddenly on a day. This type of hearing loss takes time to be even noticed by the patients, but sudden deafness can come on suddenly and without any warning. This is when the hearing loss comes over a period of three days or even less than that. Usually, this type of hearing loss affects both males and females equally and affects people in their 40s and 50s.
What Causes Sudden Deafness?
The exact cause of sudden deafness is unknown. But this can be associated with the following conditions:
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Bacterial infections
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Loss of blood flow to the inner ear.
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Ruptured eardrum.
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Autoimmune diseases such as Cogan’s syndrome.
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Trauma like a head injury.
What Are the Symptoms of Sudden Deafness?
Sudden deafness usually affects one ear in most people. The deafness is noted when using a phone on the affected side or while using the headphone. Sudden deafness usually precedes a sudden popping sound. The other symptoms of sudden deafness include:
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Unable to understand conversation when there are background noises.
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Tinnitus (ringing or buzzing sound not from an external source).
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Difficulty in hearing high-pitched sounds.
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Muffled conversation sounds.
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Dizziness.
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Balance problems.
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Difficult to locate where the sound is coming from.
How Is Sudden Deafness Diagnosed?
If sudden deafness is suspected, the first thing to do is to make an appointment with an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) specialist. The specialist will ask to get some tests done, such as:
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Pure Tone Audiometry - This test is done to measure hearing loss. It will help the specialist understand if the hearing loss is due to any obstruction which prevents the sound from reaching the inner ear, such as fluid or earwax, or by sensorineural deficit (the ear is not processing the sound reaching that). Pure tone audiometry will also help to understand the range of hearing that’s been lost.
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Blood Tests - Blood tests are done to identify any underlying infection which might be the cause of sudden deafness.
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MRI Scan - An MRI test will be ordered in order to look for any abnormality in the ear, such as tumors or cysts. An MRI scan gives a detailed and clear picture of the brain and the inner ear, which will help to identify the underlying cause of the sudden deafness.
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Balance Tests - Since these patients also tend to have balance disorders, these tests are done in order to diagnose the sudden deafness as well as the balance problem.
How Is Sudden Deafness Treated?
The early treatment improves the prognosis of the condition. In order to start the treatment, the responsibility of the patient is to consult the specialist if you suspect any sudden hearing loss so that the diagnosis is made.
The most common treatment for sudden deafness, especially in case the exact cause is unknown, are Corticosteroids. Steroids are used to treat many other disorders, and they reduce inflammation and swelling and help the body fight the illness. Steroids are usually given in oral pill form. Recently there has been an option for giving a steroid injection behind the tympanic membrane (eardrum) into the middle ear. This technique is called intratympanic corticosteroid therapy. This treatment method remains an option for patients who cannot take oral pills. This injection is better for patients who do not want to take oral steroids and for those who want to avoid the side effects of the same.
Other treatments are decided when the actual cause of the condition is diagnosed, like:
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Antibiotic therapy is started if the cause is bacterial infections.
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If the cause is taking ototoxic drugs, then the doctor will advise to stop or switch to some other drugs.
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If sudden deafness is caused due to an underlying autoimmune disease, then the treatment would include drugs that will suppress the immune response.
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If deafness cannot be treated with other methods, then the use of hearing aids (to amplify) or cochlear implants (to directly stimulate the centers in the brain directly) is advised.
When to Test the Hearing of Your Child?
Sudden hearing loss can occur in children as a result of infections or from ototoxic drugs. It is not easy to understand hearing loss in children, so consider consulting a doctor when you observe the following:
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Difficulty in understanding the language by the child.
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Does not attempt to form words.
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Does not respond to sudden noise or sounds in an expected way.
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Has numerous recurring infections and balance problems.
Can Hearing Come Back?
About half to two-thirds of people who experience sudden deafness regain their hearing back. The people who do not get their hearing back may have to opt for treatments like hearing aids and cochlear implants.
The recovery can be complete or partial. Studies have shown that people have had partial recovery in the first ten days of the treatment. It is also that the recovery is complete in patients with hearing loss with low or high frequency, compared with those who have hearing loss across all frequencies. Only a few patients have a full recovery. Also, the recovery rate is less among older patients and those who also experience vertigo along with hearing loss.
Conclusion
Sudden deafness is a condition that results in complete loss of hearing in patients. The exact cause of this condition is unknown and could be due to various conditions. This sudden deafness should be considered a medical emergency as compared to other hearing loss, and treatment should be started immediately. The onset of treatment affects the prognosis of the condition. The delay in the treatment will have a poor prognosis. So if you suspect hearing loss for yourselves or in dear ones, consult a specialist immediately so as to diagnose and get the treatment immediately. Seeking treatment from a hearing professional could make all the difference.
