For Those With Sudden Hearing Loss Early Treatment Gives Hope

More often than we would care to admit, in our modern day society, we put off on health care.

Think about people who disregard their own health care so they can get protection for their children. You can say the same for the working professional who refuses to cancel a meeting to squeeze in a doctor’s appointment. Then there are those who abide by an “ignorance is bliss” attitude and stay away from the doctor’s office for fear of what they could hear.

But what would you do if you needed more than just your annual preventive flu shot or something to deal with a sinus infection? What would you do if you woke up one morning with unexpected and complete loss of hearing in one if not both ears?

There's a good possibility your hearing will never come back if you simply attempt to wait it out. Hearing specialists warn that if you don't have sudden temporary hearing loss treated right away, especially if it's at the nerve level, it might become permanent.

What is Sudden Hearing Loss?

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), only about half the people who experience sudden hearing loss–the sudden loss of 30 decibels or more of hearing ability–will regain some or all of their hearing naturally.

Many people would be surprised to find out how often sudden hearing loss occurs. In fact, studies estimate that there are between one and six people for every 5,000 each year who experience sudden hearing loss. But according to the NIDC, if undiagnosed claims were taken into consideration, that number would go up significantly. That means that about 400,000 (or more) Americans may develop sudden hearing loss each year.

Sudden hearing loss can actually take place over a few hours or days so the term is a bit of a misconception.

What is The Cause of Sudden Hearing Loss?

Because the onset can occur over hours or days, doctors are usually not able to discover what causes most cases. The unfortunate truth is that only about 10 percent of individuals diagnosed with sudden loss of hearing have a cause that can be identified. Infections, head trauma, autoimmune diseases, exposure to certain drugs, blood circulation problems, neurological disorders and disorders of the inner ear are some of the most common causes that hearing specialist can pinpoint.

Your best possibility of getting back at least some of your normal hearing function, as mentioned, is to get treatment as soon as possible.

Sudden Hearing Loss; How do You Treat it?

In most cases, specifically those where the cause is not known, the usual course of treatment involves corticosteroids. As with all steroid usage, the goal is to reduce inflammation and decrease swelling.

As medicine has become more modern and more researchers have conducted additional studies on sudden hearing loss, the recommended method of treatment has changed. Historically, doctors prescribed these steroids in pill form, but for people who were worried about the side effects of medication or were not able to take oral steroids, this presented a challenge.

An injection of steroids into the eardrum was as reliable as an oral steroid according to a 2018 NIDCD clinical trial, even making it possible for the medication to go directly into the inner ear, without the disadvantage of the oral alternatives. Ear, nose and throat specialist around the country regularly give these injections in the office.

A panel of tests that may diagnose the underlying issue causing your sudden hearing loss can be arranged by your doctor and that's another reason why getting immediate medical attention is crucial. These tests could include blood-work, an MRI or other methods of imaging and even an examination of your balance.

New Treatments For Sudden Hearing Loss Could be on The Horizon

Given the lack of concrete information about the cause of sudden loss of hearing, continuing research goes deeper into what could be the cause. New developments with infusing drugs into tiny microspheres would offer a new technique of administering the steroids in what may be a safer way.

Researchers have shown that even though they might not have all the answers about sudden hearing loss, your chances of getting your hearing back is increased by seeking early treatment. Contact a hearing specialist if you have hearing loss of any type.