What is Sudden Hearing Loss? Symptoms and Treatment

Sudden hearing loss; It can be defined as a loss of at least 30 dB (decibels) in 3 consecutive sound frequencies in the hearing test (audiometry), which occurs in less than 3 days. The incidence of sudden hearing loss; 5 to 20 per hundred thousand. Although it can occur in both women, it is known that it occurs more frequently in the 40s. Sudden hearing loss usually affects only one ear.

What are the Causes of Sudden Hearing Loss?

Although the exact cause of sudden hearing loss has not been reported, there are some reasons that are effective in its occurrence:

• Viral infections: Viral infections such as mumps, measles, rubella, herpes virus, flu can affect the auditory nerves and cause sudden hearing loss.

• Avascular occlusion: The inner ear, which is the center of hearing and balance The feeding veins are very delicate, thin and few in number. Sudden hearing loss may occur as a result of any reason that may obstruct the vessel, such as a blood clotting disorder or embolism. Sometimes this mechanism is disrupted and our defense cells are perceived as foreign substances and wage war against our own body cells. Sudden hearing loss may occur when the inner ear is affected by this condition.

• Bacterial infections: Sudden hearing loss can be observed with bacterial infection of the structure called the labyrinth in the inner ear.

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Tumors: Tumors such as meningioma, hemangioma, acoustic neuroma can cause sudden hearing loss by affecting the auditory nerves or other ear structures. In addition to ear trauma, pressure changes that may cause tears in the mucous membranes or membranes of the inner ear structures can result in sudden hearing loss. It is known that it can cause hearing loss.

How to Diagnose Sudden Hearing Loss?

The most striking feature of hearing loss is that it develops in less than 3 days. Some patients may experience dizziness as well as hearing loss.
The main test for the diagnosis of sudden hearing loss is; audiometry (hearing test). In the hearing test, at least 30 dB (decibel) hearing loss should be detected in three consecutive frequencies. >

How to Treat Sudden Hearing Loss?

Patients who apply to our department with sudden hearing loss in the first 10 days are treated with hyperbaric oxygen. The best results in this treatment are obtained in patients who apply in the first 48 hours. The success rate of this treatment is low in patients who have passed 15 days after sudden hearing loss.
In the treatment of sudden hearing loss; Some treatments such as blood thinners, systemic or local (in-ear) corticosteroids, carbogens, high molecular weight serums, vitamins and diuretics, coenzyme Q can be applied individually or in combination.
The factors affecting the course of the disease are as follows. can be listed as;

• Advanced age,
• Concomitant dizziness,
• Vascular risk factors,
  
• Presence of metabolic diseases such as diabetes , alcohol and cigarette use,
• Delayed initiation of treatment (after 3 days)

The most important issue in sudden hearing loss is to start treatment as soon as possible. The more time wasted in this disease, the less hopeful there is of a good response to treatment.

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