@danadcm69 That sounds so distressing — I can understand why you’d be frightened after that sudden change. I’ve read that sometimes ear specialists use steroids when there’s a sudden drop in hearing, even if the cause isn’t totally clear, because inflammation can occasionally play a role. But from what I’ve gathered, exposure to very loud noise can also injure the delicate inner-ear cells directly, and recovery can take time. Everyone’s reaction seems to be a little different, and sometimes the tinnitus becomes more noticeable for a while. I hope things calm down soon and that your hearing specialist can guide you through next steps.
If your ENT hasn’t done a full audiogram or MRI of the internal auditory canal, a referral to a neuro-otologist (an ENT with extra training in the auditory nerve and brainstem) is usually more helpful than a general neurologist.