Struck by Sudden Hearing Loss

Thousands of Americans lost their hearing this past year. Who knows who could be next, perhaps it could be you! It is important to be prepared and take steps to treat the sudden onset of hearing loss.

Deafness that occurs suddenly, also known as sudden sensorineural hearing loss is a partial or complete loss of hearing in one and in some cases both ears. The hearing loss can occur over the process of just a few days and symptoms such as dizziness or Tinnitus (a ringing sensation within the ears) may also be noticed. Hearing loss is an irreversible problem thus it is important to seek to treat it as soon as possible.

Out of 100,000 Americans, around 5 to 20 people may be affected by sudden hearing loss. This type of hearing loss is most commonly found within the age range of 50 to 60 years, with only 1.2% of patients being under the age of nine. Sudden deafness can affect both men as well as women and can occur at any age.

In the event of a sudden loss of hearing, book an urgent appointment with your Ear Nose and Throat doctor or head to the hospital. Hearing recovery tends to decrease in likelihood between the first week and second week from its onset, with the chances of recovery being 87% during the first week, which further decreases to 52% recovery rate within the second week.

Sudden hearing loss can occur with no apparent cause, although some of the possible causes can be a result of infectious diseases such as mumps, Syphilis, or Lyme disease. Certain ear disorders may also lead to sudden deafness, such as Otosclerosis, Meniere’s disease, and fluctuating hearing loss.

Hearing loss is an irreversible problem, but you can still take steps to help you regain your sense of hearing through the use of assistive auditory devices such as hearing aids. If you feel like you might be losing your sense of hearing, do not delay. Get your hearing tested by an audiologist today.