Treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss

What is sudden hearing loss?

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is a hearing loss that develops within seconds to hours, usually in one ear and without a cause in the outer or middle ear. It can be accompanied by ringing in the ear, a feeling of pressure or dizziness.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is made by hearing tests – tuning forks, pure-tone and speech audiometry, and tympanometry – and examination of the ear. Magnetic resonance imaging may be added to exclude other causes. Sudden hearing loss should be assessed promptly, since early treatment improves the chances of recovery.

Treatment options

Standard treatment is corticosteroid therapy, given orally or as an injection through the eardrum into the middle ear. In selected cases, additional measures such as infusion therapy or hyperbaric oxygen treatment can be discussed. Which measures are appropriate depends on the findings, the time since the hearing loss began and the individual situation.

After the treatment

The course of hearing is documented with follow-up audiometry. If hearing loss persists, further options such as hearing aids, tinnitus treatment or hearing and speech training are discussed. New or worsening symptoms should be reported promptly.