The causes of a sudden hearing loss can be something trivial like impacted wax in the ear canals. A severe bout of cold can result in fluid in the middle ear (behind the ear drum)
The above mentioned causes result in reduced sound conduction. Treatment is relatively simple and even a little delay in starting treatment has no consequences.
Early diagnosis is important for a good recovery. Treatment would include steroid medicines given orally or transtympanically
Sudden hearing loss can rarely happen due to damage to the inner ear (cochlea). The cochlea has receptor cells for hearing. Patients may not have pain or the symptoms of a cold. Instead they may have complaints of buzzing /ringing in the ears (called tinnitus) and rarely dizziness. This type of hearing loss called SUDDEN SENSORI – NEURAL LOSS can be diagnosed by examination. Audiometry (hearing test) helps to quantity the loss.
Early diagnosis is important for a good recovery. Treatment would include steroid medicines given orally or transtympanically. Transtympanic injection are given into the middle ear. The steroid medicines reach high concentration in the cochlea and can reverse the damage. Patients with sudden sensori neural loss are asked to come for regular checkup (about once a week) till the hearing has stabilized.
