Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
is a Medical Emergency!

What is sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL)?

Sudden hearing loss is a frightening condition. It happens to between 300,000 and more than 1.2 million people around the world each year.

A typical patient with SSNHL loses his or her hearing in one ear over a period of one to several days. SSNHL is often associated with a feeling of fullness and tinnitus in the involved ear. There may be dizziness or vertigo. Occasionally, the patient may report an upper respiratory infection prior to the onset of the hearing loss.

How is sudden sensorineural hearing loss treated?

Treatment with oral steroids within the first 2 weeks of the symptoms provides the best chance that some of the hearing may return. Several small studies have suggested that steroids injected into the middle ear can be beneficial, and this treatment may be offered to patients.

A delay in treating this condition (2 weeks or more after the symptoms first began) will decrease the chance that medications might help improve the hearing loss.

Why do patients with SSNHL often not see a specialist right away?

Symptoms of decreased hearing and fullness of the ear are easily mistaken for a middle ear infection, so referral to an ENT specialist may be made too late. Insurance issues may also prevent referral in a timely fashion to an ear specialist.

Is there a way to diagnose sudden sensorineural hearing quickly and easily in the office?

Yes. Although the diagnosis can only be confirmed by specialized hearing testing in a sound-proof chamber by an audiologist, a quick screening examination can be done in the primary care office using a 512 Hz tuning fork. Middle ear infections, tympanic membrane perforations, cerumen buildup, and serous otitis will show tuning fork findings of a conductive-type hearing loss. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss will show tuning fork findings of a nerve-type hearing loss.

If you need a refresher in how to use the tuning fork, please click here.