Sudden Hearing Loss - Causes and Treatments
Sudden hearing loss can be frightening and cause great concern, but the good news is that there are many treatments for sudden hearing loss. Here we'll look at common causes and treatment options. Hopefully, this information will help you identify this condition and make the right decision for your situation. After all, a sudden loss of hearing should never be ignored, and it should be treated as a medical emergency.
Treatment options
If you have sudden hearing loss, it is important to seek medical treatment right away. Early diagnosis and treatment will greatly improve your chances of full recovery. A doctor will perform a physical examination and look inside your ear to see if there is any obstruction. They will also perform a pure tone hearing test to determine if you have sensorineural hearing loss.
Sudden hearing loss can be caused by serious medical conditions, including viruses and tumors in the inner ear. About 3 percent of patients will be diagnosed with acoustic neuromas, which attack the auditory nerve, which sends signals from the inner ear to the brain. These tumors usually affect only one ear, grow slowly, and do not metastasize.
Treatment options for sudden hearing loss include taking corticosteroid medications or oral steroids. Corticosteroids reduce inflammation and swelling in the body and help the body fight infections. Prednisone is one common steroid used for this purpose. Alternatively, doctors may use a technique called intratympanic corticosteroid therapy, which involves injecting corticosteroid solution directly into the middle ear. Other treatments can include earwax removal or fluid removal, or even the injection of antihistamines.
Common causes
Sudden hearing loss is caused by a number of factors. The most common cause is an excessive buildup of wax in the ear. Infections and inflammation of the ear canal can also affect hearing. Foreign bodies may also get lodged in the ear canal, blocking sound transmission. Osteomas, which are bony growths within the ear, are another common cause of sudden hearing loss.
A simple pure tone hearing test can help determine the cause of sudden hearing loss. The goal is to determine the patient's threshold for hearing sounds. If 30 decibels or three connected frequencies are lost, the patient may be experiencing sudden deafness. This condition causes a loss of hearing so severe that a normal volume sounds like a whisper. If a diagnosis is not made right away, the patient may need to undergo additional testing to pinpoint the cause.
There are several treatments for sudden deafness. In some cases, oral corticosteroids are prescribed. These drugs are effective in treating many disorders because they reduce inflammation and swelling and help the body fight off illnesses. While oral corticosteroids used to be given by mouth, a recent study showed that an intratympanic steroid injection could help those who have trouble swallowing or taking pills.
Treatment options for sudden hearing loss
Sudden hearing loss can be caused by a variety of medical conditions, including viral infections, tumors, or autoimmune disorders. Your doctor will need to identify the underlying cause to treat the condition. He or she will examine your ear canals and test for blockages, swelling, or inflammation. He or she may also order blood tests and MRIs to find the underlying cause.
Treatment for sudden hearing loss may involve medication or surgery. There are a variety of options, including hearing aids, cochlear implants, and steroid treatments. Some treatments are effective but not a cure. In many cases, the condition will recur and require new treatment. The most effective treatments for sudden hearing loss include oral cortisone therapy, which takes about a week to work. If that doesn't help, an additional "booster" dose can be injected directly into the ear. Injecting cortisone into the middle ear can improve your hearing.
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss can be difficult to diagnose and treat, but it's critical to seek medical treatment right away if you've noticed a sudden loss of hearing. Medical treatments can be helpful in eliminating the causes of sudden hearing loss that are urgent, but their efficacy is debatable. While this isn't a cure, it can help relieve some of your symptoms, such as tinnitus and vertigo.
