Sudden hearing loss in one ear can be alarming as well as confusing. The hearing loss usually happens over a short period of time and diagnosing the cause can be difficult. Keep reading to learn about some common causes of sudden hearing loss and the treatments available to alleviate it.

Sudden Hearing Loss

Sudden hearing loss, also referred to as Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL), is the rapid loss of hearing either all at once or over a few days. This type of hearing loss happens because something is wrong with the sensory organs of the inner ear. Pinpointing the issue with those sensory organs can be hard to do.

Sudden hearing loss is estimated to affect between one and six people per 5,000 each year. However, those numbers could be significantly higher because a lot of sudden hearing loss cases go undiagnosed. Sudden hearing loss can affect anyone at any age, although most cases are adults in their late 40s and early 50s. 

Sudden hearing loss frequently affects just one ear. People who have sudden hearing loss oftentimes attribute it to allergies or a sinus infection, but the root cause could be something more serious. Seeing an audiologist is a must if you’re experiencing abrupt hearing loss in one or both ears.

Causes of Sudden Hearing Loss in One Ear

Experiencing sudden hearing loss can be frightening and most times there is no warning. People who experience it usually notice hearing loss when they wake up in the morning, or when they go to use the deaf ear for the first time, such as when they use their phone. However, there are cases where a loud popping sound may occur before hearing is lost, or a feeling of dizziness or ringing in the ears may take place.

A variety of causes may be to blame for sudden hearing loss which is why seeing an audiologist quickly is important. Causes of sudden hearing loss may include:

• Infection
• Head trauma
• Blood circulation problems
• A ruptured membrane in the ear
• Stroke
• Meneire’s disease (disruption of fluid in the inner ear)

Viral infections tend to be the most common cause of sudden hearing loss in one ear. An autoimmune disease could also cause sudden hearing loss in one or both ears. It’s important to have a hearing professional check your ear(s) if you experience a sudden loss of hearing.

Treatment for Sudden Hearing Loss

Time is of the essence when it comes to treating sudden hearing loss. If any hearing loss can be recovered, it’s important to start treatment shortly after the onset of the hearing loss. There is no treatment that will help regain all of the hearing that has been lost, but there are also options for those left with permanent hearing loss.

The most common treatment for sudden hearing loss are steroids (cortisone), taken in pill form over 1-2 weeks. A steroid “booster” injected into the inner ear is also a possibility, however neither of these options guarantee that hearing will be restored or improved.

Depending on the suspected cause of the hearing loss, other treatment options may be recommended by your audiologist or hearing care professional. Antioxidants have been shown to promote the healing and health of the inner ear; in a case of Meneire’s disease, a low salt diet is recommended. If a membrane rupture in the inner ear is discovered as the cause of sudden hearing loss, a surgical procedure may be done to correct it.

While these treatment options do exist, none are guaranteed to bring back hearing. There are options for those with permanent hearing loss in the form of hearing aids. Hearing aids are worn in or around the ear, or a combination of both, and amplify sound directly into the ear.

If your sudden hearing loss is only affecting one ear, it’s even more important that you see an audiologist for your hearing aid needs. Although you may think that the hearing loss is only in one ear, that ear may just have more hearing loss than the other and both need to be treated. An audiologist can make sure that the balance between the two ears is correct so that your hearing is as close to perfect as possible.

If you or someone you know is experiencing sudden hearing loss, reach out to the team at Hearing Solution Centers today!