Sudden Hearing Loss - What to Do Immediately

Imagine waking up one morning and realizing you cannot hear from one ear. Or picking up your phone and finding that all the sound seems to come from only one side. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) is a frightening experience that affects thousands of people every year, and it is a medical emergency that requires immediate action.

In Pakistan, many people dismiss sudden hearing loss as temporary or caused by wax buildup, delaying treatment that could save their hearing. Every hour counts when it comes to SSHL, and understanding what to do can make the difference between recovery and permanent hearing loss.

What Is Sudden Hearing Loss?

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is defined as a loss of at least 30 dB in three connected frequencies occurring within 72 hours. In simpler terms, it means a significant, rapid drop in your ability to hear. It most commonly affects one ear and can range from mild to total deafness in the affected ear.

Symptoms to Watch For

• Hearing loss in one ear noticed upon waking up
• A loud pop in the ear followed by reduced hearing
• Feeling of fullness or pressure in the affected ear
• Tinnitus (ringing, buzzing, or humming) in the affected ear
• Dizziness or vertigo accompanying hearing loss
• Difficulty understanding phone calls on one side

What to Do Immediately

Step 1: See an ENT Doctor Within 24 Hours

This is the most critical step. Do not wait for a general doctor appointment. Go directly to an ENT specialist or hospital emergency department. In Islamabad, hospitals like PIMS, Shifa International, and Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences have ENT departments that can evaluate you immediately.

Step 2: Get a Hearing Test

The ENT doctor will order a Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA) test to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity and type of hearing loss. This test takes about 20 minutes and is painless.

Step 3: Begin Steroid Treatment

If diagnosed with SSHL, doctors typically prescribe high-dose oral corticosteroids (usually prednisolone) for 10-14 days. Some ENT specialists may also offer intratympanic steroid injections directly into the middle ear. Treatment must begin within 2 weeks for the best chance of recovery, but the sooner, the better.

Step 4: Follow Up

Repeat hearing tests at 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months to monitor recovery. Some patients recover fully, others partially, and some do not recover at all.

Common Causes

In most cases, the exact cause of sudden hearing loss is never identified. However, known causes and risk factors include:

• Viral infections: Common cold viruses, flu, mumps, and herpes viruses can damage the inner ear
• Blood circulation problems: Reduced blood flow to the inner ear due to cardiovascular issues
• Autoimmune conditions: The immune system attacking inner ear tissues
• Head trauma: Injury to the head or ear
• Meniere's disease: An inner ear condition causing vertigo and hearing fluctuations
• Acoustic neuroma: A benign tumor on the hearing nerve (rare but important to rule out)

What NOT to Do

• Do not assume it is just wax. While wax can reduce hearing, sudden loss of hearing should always be evaluated by a doctor.
• Do not try home remedies. Putting oil, garlic juice, or any other substance in the ear will not help and may delay critical treatment.
• Do not wait and see. Every day of delay reduces the chance of recovery.
• Do not panic. While urgent, SSHL is treatable, especially when caught early.

When Hearing Aids Become Necessary

If hearing does not recover after treatment, a hearing aid can restore much of the lost hearing. For single-sided deafness, specialized solutions like CROS hearing aids or bone conduction devices route sound from the deaf ear to the hearing ear.

Our audiologists can evaluate your post-recovery audiogram and recommend the most appropriate hearing solution. Many SSHL patients find that even with partial recovery, a hearing aid makes a tremendous difference in daily communication.