Sudden hearing loss: the facts

● “Every year, between one and six people in every

5,000 experience sudden sensorineural hearing loss, or sudden deafness,” explains audiologist Duncan Collet-fenson at Aston hearing Services (astonhearing.co.uk).

● “It is defined as a drop of at least 30 decibels in more than three frequencies over a short period of time, usually affects just one ear and is most common between the ages of 30 and 60. Symptoms can include a ‘pop’, dizziness, tinnitus or a sensation of ‘fullness’ in the ear before hearing disappears or gradually fades away.”

● Unlike conductive hearing loss, which affects the mechanics of transmitting sound to the inner ear, SSHL affects the sensory receptors of the inner ear and can damage the auditory nerve itself. Left untreated, it can mean permanent, irreversible hearing loss.

● Causes can include viral infections, blood circulation problems, head trauma or autoimmune disease.

● With prompt emergency treatment – usually in the form of high-dose oral steroids or steroid injections directly into the inner ear within 24 to 48 hours to reduce swelling and inflammation – there is a 50 per cent chance of hearing being saved.

● “the vast majority of affected patients either do nothing or are misdiagnosed with wax or blocked Eustachian tubes,” he says. “By the time they receive specialist help it’s too late and nothing can be done. the hearing loss is permanent.”

● “the best way to prevent SSHL is to protect your hearing,” he says. “that includes avoiding loud noises and environments, regular hearing checks, wearing a helmet when playing contact sports or riding a bike, treating sinus infections early, keeping a check on blood pressure, eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding smoking and getting enough sleep.”