The subtle changes in hearing you should never ignore
UC audiologist shares symptoms that could be a medical emergency
It’s easy to dismiss changes in hearing as minor. But as The Washington Post recently reported, these symptoms could also signal a medical emergency that many people don’t recognize — known as sudden sensorineural hearing loss, a rapid decline in hearing that occurs suddenly or over a few days.
“You know your body best,” said Lisa Houston Wenstrup, an audiologist at the University of Cincinnati in the College of Medicine's Department of Otolaryngology. If something suddenly seems off with your hearing, don’t assume it will go away on its own — get it checked.
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is a potentially reversible condition distinct from hearing loss caused by aging, noise exposure or earwax buildup. It might feel like ear fullness or pressure, or like the ear needs to pop after a flight or a drive through the mountains.
It may also appear as a subtle change in sound quality or as distortion at certain frequencies rather than a decrease in volume. Voices may be loud enough to hear but difficult to understand. Everyday sounds may seem muffled, as if you’re underwater. It can also become harder to tell where sounds are coming from because your brain relies on both ears to pinpoint direction.
Another sign of sudden sensorineural hearing loss is dizziness or vertigo, which can range from mild unsteadiness to a severe spinning sensation that can induce vomiting.
Treatment within seven days of symptom onset offers the best chance of recovery. The most common approach is a short course of high-dose oral prednisone, a powerful steroid that reduces inflammation and gives the inner ear the best opportunity to recover.
If you miss the treatment window, “don’t beat yourself up,” said Wenstrup. “There’s nothing you could have done to prevent this."
For those who don’t recover their hearing, it’s normal to feel fear, grief and anger. “You’re losing half of a sense. It’s scary,” Wenstrup said.
Featured image at top: iStock/Daria Kulkova.
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