It is undeniable that happiness and the way we all live our lives depend on “hearing sounds.” If we ever face hearing problems, it would be a big issue because it leads to difficulties and a loss of happiness in this aspect.
Today, we will introduce another dangerous disease considered one of the “silent threats” that harm our hearing to the point of possible deafness, which is “Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.” What causes this disease and how should it be treated? Let’s find out!
What is Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss and why does it occur?
“Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss” or “Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss” is a condition where the ear loses hearing by “more than 30 decibels” within 72 hours. It can occur in both ears simultaneously but is more commonly found in one ear. Over 90% of patients usually do not know the cause, but 10% can be caused by the following reasons:
- Caused by viral infections
- Caused by complications from diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, thyroid disease, immune deficiency diseases, and myasthenia gravis, etc.
- Caused by receiving aminoglycoside antibiotics
- Caused by reduced blood circulation in the ear due to low blood pressure or severe blood loss
- Caused by insufficient rest
- Caused by severe Meniere’s disease, which also causes dizziness
- Caused by brain tumors or tumors on the auditory nerve
- Exposure to very loud noises, including listening to loud music with headphones for a long time or sleeping while still wearing headphones, increases the risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss
What symptoms suggest sudden sensorineural hearing loss?
The easiest symptom to notice in sudden sensorineural hearing loss is a sudden loss of hearing that rapidly occurs within 3 days. If untreated, the hearing impairment will remain or worsen to the point of ‘deafness, hearing nothing at all’. Other accompanying symptoms may include hearing ringing or buzzing sounds originating from the ear without external noise, or some may feel a blockage or fullness in the ear. Hearing ability decreases, requiring repetition to hear or turning up the TV volume. However, this condition “does not involve pain” and differs from ordinary ear fullness because it does not resolve within one day but persists and progressively worsens hearing quality.
How is sudden sensorineural hearing loss diagnosed with certainty?
To diagnose sudden sensorineural hearing loss, doctors first perform a physical examination to rule out outer and middle ear conditions. Then, the patient undergoes an “Audiogram” or “hearing test”, which takes about 15-20 minutes. The patient is taken to a quiet room and listens to sounds through headphones one ear at a time to assess hearing levels in decibels, along with a speech comprehension test. The results are presented as percentages and graphs, clearly indicating whether the patient has sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
How is sudden sensorineural hearing loss treated?
The main treatment for sudden sensorineural hearing loss is “steroids”. Oral steroids are given for about 1-2 weeks initially. If symptoms do not improve and hearing loss remains severe, treatment with Intratympanic Steroid Injection is considered. This involves injecting steroids into the middle ear through the eardrum. Afterward, hearing tests are scheduled weekly until the patient recovers. Doctors consider steroid injections in three cases:
- Patients with diabetes who prefer not to take oral steroids because steroids affect blood sugar levels. Injections are preferred as the drug is delivered directly to the middle ear through the eardrum, not into the bloodstream, thus not affecting blood sugar.
- In cases of severe hearing loss, injections are used alongside oral steroids.
- When oral steroids are ineffective.
During treatment, doctors may also consider supplementing with vitamin B12 to nourish the ear’s nerve endings.
How to take care of yourself to prevent sudden sensorineural hearing loss?
Since sudden sensorineural hearing loss can occur from known or unknown causes, to avoid this disease, you should take care of yourself as follows:
- Avoid listening to loud noises or staying in noisy environments for prolonged periods
- Get enough sleep and rest
- Always eat thoroughly cooked food to reduce the chance of viral infections that may cause hearing loss
- Reduce intake of strong-flavored foods such as salty, fatty, and sweet foods because diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure are causes of this disease
- Avoid aggressive ear cleaning that may perforate the eardrum, as this can lead to infections spreading to the inner ear
Because the abnormalities of sudden sensorineural hearing loss can resemble ear fullness and hearing loss after exposure to loud sounds, some people may underestimate it and leave it untreated, thinking it is just ordinary ear fullness, which increases the risk of serious harm. Therefore, for safety and effective treatment, if you experience abnormal hearing symptoms for more than one day without improvement, you should consult a doctor immediately for a proper diagnosis and timely treatment planning before the condition worsens to permanent deafness and irreversible hearing loss.
