Understanding Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL)

Imagine waking up one morning and realizing that the world sounds muffled like you’re underwater. Or perhaps you notice a persistent ringing in your ear that just won’t go away. For those experiencing Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL), this can be a frightening reality.

SSHL is a type of hearing loss that may occur suddenly and progress within several hours. This condition usually starts in one ear, though it can occasionally progress and affect both ears.

In this article, we’ll dive deeper into SSHL, exploring its symptoms, causes, and ways to address the condition.

What Causes SSHL?

While for most individuals diagnosed with this condition, the specific trigger remains unknown or idiopathic, some potential triggers often include vascular problems, abnormal cellular stress responses within the cochlea, and immune system reactions.

Although less common, the following conditions may also cause Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss:

• Meniere’s Disease: This condition of the inner ear is characterized by vertigo, tinnitus, and fluctuating hearing loss, which can sometimes cause sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
• Prolonged Exposure to Loud Noise: Constant exposure to loud sounds for a long period of time will potentially harm the sensitive components of the inner ear.
• Lyme Disease: Lyme disease can affect hearing health if undiagnosed or untreated. This disease can cause damage to the inner ear and nerves, which may lead to symptoms that include tinnitus, vertigo, hyperacusis, and even sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
• Malfunction of the Inner Ear: Any dysfunction in the inner ear, whether congenital or due to injury, can lead to sudden hearing loss. This could involve issues with the cochlea or auditory nerve.

Additionally, SSHL can be triggered by various other factors, including certain medications, snake bites, blood circulation problems, tumors, and aging.

Due to this range of potential causes, it’s crucial to seek medical attention as soon as symptoms appear. Early diagnosis and intervention can significantly improve the chances of managing the condition effectively and minimizing its impact on your hearing.

Congenital SSHL

Sensorineural hearing loss can be congenital in some rare cases, meaning it is present at birth. Hearing Science experts estimate that 1 to 3 out of 1,000 babies are born with some degree of hearing loss, and the causes can vary from genetics to viral infections during pregnancy.

Some of the factors that may cause congenital sensorineural hearing loss include:

• Genetic Factors: Some children are born predisposed to hearing loss due to inherited genetic mutations that affect the inner ear’s function.
• Complications During Pregnancy or Birth: Prenatal infections, insufficient oxygen during birth, or complications during delivery may disrupt the development of the auditory system, potentially resulting in hearing loss.
• Infections: Maternal infections such as rubella or cytomegalovirus (CMV) during pregnancy can sometimes affect the baby’s hearing development, leading to congenital SSHL.

Which Signs and Symptoms Occur with Sensorineural Hearing Loss?

SSHL is characterized by the sudden onset of hearing loss, which may occur and progress within hours or days. The hearing loss may be partial or complete. People experiencing SSHL may notice that their hearing ability drops without any apparent reason, sometimes waking up to find that they cannot hear as clearly in one ear. Some also might notice that sounds become muffled and speech becomes difficult to understand.

Besides hearing loss and muffled sound, other symptoms that can also be related to SSHL include:

• Tinnitus: A ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound in the ear, which can occur continuously or come and go.
• Vertigo: A spinning sensation or dizziness that can be severe, causing balance issues and an inability to stand or walk without support.
• The feeling of Blockage in the Ear: A feeling of pressure or fullness in the affected ear, which may resemble having water trapped in the ear after swimming.

How is SSHL Detected?

To detect sudden sensorineural hearing loss, healthcare professionals will rely on several methods. These methods may include going through the patient’s medical history, conducting a physical examination, and a range of tests to rule out possible causes of hearing loss.

1. Medical History and Physical Examination

To find the cause, your doctor will begin by reviewing information about your symptoms and medical history. This may involve questions about the onset of sudden hearing loss, recent illnesses, noise exposure, or family history of hearing issues. Furthermore, through a physical examination, doctors can also detect any potential infections in one or both ears or physical obstructions in the ear canal.

2. Hearing Tests (Audiogram)

Hearing assessments are commonly performed to assess the extent of hearing loss. This test measures how well a person can hear different frequencies and volumes. SSHL should be identified by a decrease of at least 30 decibels within a 72-hour period, which can make normal conversations sound like whispers.

3. Imaging Tests (MRI)

In some cases, imaging tests such as an MRI may be recommended. These tests can help find other possible causes of sudden hearing loss, such as tumors, damage to the auditory nerve, or other structural issues within one of the ears or brain.

4. Blood Tests

Blood tests can be used to detect Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss by detecting specific proteins, such as prestin, that are released from damaged outer hair cells in the inner ear. These proteins can be measured in the blood, offering a way to identify hearing loss at an early stage.

How is SSHL Treated?

When it comes to finding the best treatment for Sensorineural Hearing Loss, early detection is key. This is because the sooner SSHL is detected and addressed, the better the chances of regaining your hearing. The management of SSHL itself generally involves a combination of medications and follow-up care.

Some other management options can be tried to address SSHL, including:

• Corticosteroids: These medications are usually prescribed to reduce inflammation in the inner ear, which may potentially help in hearing recovery. Corticosteroids can be taken orally or given as injections directly into the ear.
• Antiviral Medications: In cases where a virus infection is responsible for SSHL, healthcare providers might opt for antiviral medications to combat the infection itself.
• Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT): When SSHL is related to the lack of oxygen, HBOT might be used to relieve the symptoms. This treatment uses pure oxygen to be inhaled in a pressurized setting to enhance healing and increase the oxygen flow to the inner ear.

In certain instances, starting treatment within the first two weeks of symptoms can lead to a better possibility of recovery from Sensorineural Hearing Loss. Therefore, if you suspect you might be experiencing SSHL, consider seeking help from an audiologist or healthcare professional immediately.

Outlook For People With SSHL

The outlook for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss may vary, depending on the cause and how early treatment is received. In cases where the cause is detected early, treatment can be done immediately. This helps to increase the chance of regaining the hearing ability. For more severe cases, around 50% of people with SSHL can experience partial or full recovery within one to two weeks.

Furthermore, follow-up care and hearing rehabilitation can also help manage the condition, prevent it from worsening, and improve hearing ability over time. This process might involve getting hearing aids from a hearing aid distributor if necessary.