Sudden Hearing Loss? Don’t Wait to be Checked!

Offered by: John Wilson, B.S., BC-HIS - Blue Ribbon Hearing & Tinnitus Center

Oneof the most common calls we receive is from someone who has suddenly lost hearing, typically in one ear (although sometimes it is in both.) When I receive one of these calls, I try to get them in the office as soon as possible to verify the cause of the loss, because in certain instances, waiting too long can have permanent long-term consequences.

Typically, the problem is earwax, some other blockage of the ear canal, or a middle ear infection. ese problems are common and can be resolved by removing the blockage or treating the ear infection. However, the small percentage of cases that are due to an inner ear condition may require urgent, timely treatment, as was the case in the following stories

Years ago, late on a Friday afternoon, I received a frantic phone call from a doctor trying to get a patient in for a hearing test. e patient had experienced sudden onset hearing loss and the doctor needed the test to verify the nature of the problem to properly treat the condition. I knew the seriousness of the situation and was able to squeeze the patient in to complete the exam that evening. Unfortunately, the patient actually had lost all hearing in one ear and would need to undergo a treatment as soon as possible to try reverse it. If the treatment did not work, the hearing would likely never return. Fortunately, I was able to get the patient in within 24 hours of onset and the doctor was able to begin treatment immediately afterward. After completing the multi-week treatment, the patient’s hearing miraculously returned.

Unfortunately, this is not typically what happens with sudden onset hearing loss. Most of the time in these situations, people wait too long to have it checked and the hearing loss becomes permanent. In order to have the greatest likelihood of saving the hearing, treatment should begin within 24 hours of onset. Over the past 15+ years, I have seen countless patients who did not receive treatment in time and ended up with permanent, typically complete, hearing loss in one ear.

Up until last week, the prior situation mentioned was the one and only time a patient had come in soon enough to get treatment to potentially save their hearing. en, last week I received a call from a patient who wondered if I could remove wax. It was Friday afternoon, but they had stopped hearing in one ear two days prior. I had them come in immediately and found there was no wax or blockage in the canal, and the eardrum looked perfectly healthy. I proceeded to test the hearing and found the hearing was completely gone at most frequencies in the ear. I immediately began calling every otolaryngologist (ENT) in the Metro area and found one who was working and not in surgery who would get the patient in that evening. e patient was treated immediately and during the first follow up, a small amount of hearing had returned. e treatment will continue for a couple of more weeks. In the worst-case scenario, the patient will lose almost all of their hearing in the ear and the type of loss is not treatable with hearing aids. In the best-case scenario, their hearing will return completely. Had the patient not come in when they did, it would have been too late to have a chance to treat the loss.

So, when it comes to sudden hearing loss, it is always better to have it checked immediately to catch the most serious cases before it is too late to possibly save the hearing. If it is wax or some other problem, it can be easily remedied. If it is something more serious, immediate treatment is imperative.

UPDATE: e patient mentioned completed treatment with the ENT and as of last week most of the hearing has returned! I am sharing this article, slightly modified, for a second month to increase awareness since another patient came in on Monday with the same problem and diagnosis. e patient waited a few days to call, but said had they known about the potential seriousness of the problem, they would have called sooner. Please, be aware and share.

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