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Sudden Hearing Loss: Want to connect with others
Hearing Loss | Last Active: May 24, 2022 | Replies (85)Comment receiving replies
I'm so sorry that you experienced SSHL and weren't advised by your PCP to go to an ENT immediately. They do say that treatment for SSHL is best when received 1-3 days of the SSHL event. That being said, as you've read, treatment often doesn't work.
I had SSHL and lost essentially all of the hearing in my right ear. I took steroids for two weeks, but none of the hearing came back. I hope for better outcomes for you.
Another frustration part of SSHL, aside from many people being unaware that it exists and that treatments are often unsuccessful, is the fact that we only ever know the cause in about 10% of the cases. So tragedy strikes and we don't even get to find out why it happened. Quite frustrating.
I experienced some depression when it happened to me. Researching solution options helped pull me out of my depressive thoughts (like: Why did this happen to me? How can I continue teaching/working? What am I going to do??) and my angry thoughts (like: Why was my first ENT doctor such a jerk and so casual about my VERY MAJOR HEARING LOSS??) and put me on a proactive path toward finding the best way to cope with my new reality.
I hope you had a successful visit with the otolaryngologist!
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Most sensorineural hearing loss is gradual loss over years. While sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) is not common, it does happen. (Obviously) Because of my involvement in HLAA, I know several people who have experienced SSHL A couple of them had it happen after traveling via air. Another was related to a prescription drug. Extreme noise, such as in an explosion may also lead to SSHL. In all instances it was a shocking surprise to go from hearing to partly deaf.
Steroid treatment may work in some cases, but for the most part that treatment has to be started within a few days of the start of the SSHL. It's illogical for someone to know this in advance. We tend to wait a week or so in most instances of health concerns.
There is a sad reality here. While our PCPs are are go to people for just about everything, they do not have training in this area. Hearing isses fall on the 'way back burner' in the studies our PCPs participate in. This is changing, but it's not changing fast enough.
I ask this question. How many people who have hearing issues, even mention hearing loss to their PCP at a standard physical exam? How many PCPs ask their patients about their hearing? This rarely comes up unless there's an extreme problem related to pain such as in an ear infection.
This isn't to say our PCPs are lacking. they just don't know. It is a field few have had opportunity to study in. And, it doesn't help that so many people won't talk about hearing loss or even acknowledge that they have it. Denial is far more common than the reverse. So discussion on this topic is often avoided.
The best advice for anyone with SSHL is to get into an ENT specialist immediately. Of course that's not easy either because they are booked solid. YOU have to recognize this as an emergency and be extremely assertive when trying to schedule an appointment.
All of the people I know who have experienced SSHL have had successful cochlear implants.
Have your PCPs, audiologists, etc. discussed cochlear implants with you?