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Will I regain my hearing in left ear?
I woke up with no hearing in left ear. Went to urgent care because I thought it was just wax. Dr. said it was clear. He told me to use an antihistimine. So I went to the urgent care next to that one because I couldn't believe he didn't see wax. That dr said the same thing, my ears were clear. He prescribed the 6,5,4,3. etc dose of prednisone. The following Tuesday (4 days later) I finally got in to ent. He referred me to ent neuro which I went to on Thursday. Diagnosis is sensorineuro hearing loss. Now I'm on 60 mg of prednisone for a week then reducing it a tablet every 2 days. Tomorrow I'm going to hyperbaric oxygen therapy for 10 days. Anyone have experience with this. In addition, I hear white noise in that ear which is very disturbing and loud. Any encouragement welcome.
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Why would sensorial hearing loss come on that quickly? That doesn’t make sense. You probably had mild hearing loss before the incident that knocked out your hearing. Conventional doctors, conventional treatments. I had similar situation after a flight to Hawaii. Unfortunately for me the wait times were so long to see any specialists, the window for steroid treatment had closed. Sounds like you were able to see doctors pretty quickly. For some people your prescribed treatment does bring hearing back. Good luck to you!
I have not been so lucky.
Please post about the hyperbaric treatment. I have considered, but since my issues started with a plane flight, I’m a little dubious about the pressure involved in hyperbaric treatment. Some people have good success with that.
Fingers crossed that some of this treatment restores your hearing.
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1 ReactionThank for your response. I'm sorry you haven't had luck. I never had any hearing loss whatsoever. The doctors are calling it sudden hearing loss/sud8 den deafness. I am so uncomfortable and devastated. Everything sounds like an echo or roaring. I don't know how I'm going to live with this if it can't be fixed. I did go to hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber today. The first 15 min my ears hurt from the pressure change. The dr told me to sip water, swallow, same stuff we do on a plane. When the pressure stabilized it was okay. Then coming out of it, the pressure was let down I guess and my ears began popping. She said to do nothing that my ears will stabilize automatically. However, it's now 8 hours later and my right ear, the good one, is still popping. I have an appt to go again tom. I'm desperate to try whatever will work. I'll most likely go. Inside the chamber, I was able to watch TV. It's so hard to talk an listen to anyone and being a teacher that's a tough one! (Sound is horrible)
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1 ReactionDistorted hearing has been very tough for me to cope with. I’m almost two years with it now.
I was worried about the increased pressure in the chamber. I hope your ears clear and you feel better. Some people have very good result with the treatment.
Please keep us posted on your progress.
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1 ReactionHow old are you? We're you subject to the loud jet plane noise outside the plane on the ground? In the military, my left ear was permanently injured.. by loud noises to my left side.. another problem with the middle ear could be arthritis that caused those little bones not to recover.. in my case the hair like cells in the inner ear are now flat.. blown flat.. will not recover.
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Actually, sudden hearing loss does come on just that quickly. I was awake when mine happened, and it was like a switch was shut off on my right ear. I can tell you the exact date and what I was doing when it happened. Not realizing it was an emergency, I just assumed it was temporary like when you have a stuffed ear caused by a cold or something. Had I known better, I would have gone to the ER. The next morning, which was a Sunday, I woke up with severe vertigo so bad that I had to crawl when I was finally able to get put of bed. I contacted my PCP first thing Monday. They got me in to see a PA. No one seemed overly concerned by what was going on with me. I was sent to a physical therapist for the vertigo. Nothing got better so I went back to my PCP a few days later. By the time I got in to see an ENT, 10 days had passed. I had an MRI, and the steroid shot and meds did not bring my hearing back, but I later learned that an eatlier treatment would have given me a better chance. I have zero hearing in that ear. I had just had hearing tests on both ears 4 months before the SSHL so I knew my hearing was better than average for my age...no hearing aids needed.
About a year later, I had an Osia 2 bone conduction implant which helps with directional hearing, but I will never have the life I had before this happened. Only a person who has experienced sudden hearing loss will appreciate the life changing aspects of the phenomena. The sad part is that no one has ever been able to offer an explanation as to why this happened. There are theories, but no definitive answers. You just learn to live and cope with it. There are many things that can be worse in this life, but I still research for solutions. Never give up.
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2 ReactionsMine was similar after a plane trip. I had mild hearing loss before that time, but it didn’t bother me. (I guess that’s why I made that comment)
Same as you, no-one treated my condition with any urgency. I waited and waited to see ENT doctors, and my PCP didn’t seem to understand the need to get me in as quickly as possible. I didn’t even know the questions to ask.
I was given hearing aids, and like you, was sent to PT for vertigo.
My hearing continues to deteriorate. They suggest anti-depressants. I have seen seven ENTs. Each one has a different diagnosis. Nobody knows.
My life is also forever changed.
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1 Reaction@imayo Thank you for sharing your experience. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is not that uncommon. It has been discussed several times on Mayo Clinic Connect. As a long time active member of the Hearing Loss Assn. of America (HLAA), I have met many people who have experienced it. In many instances it started after air travel. In others it just happened. In most cases there had been no prior indication of hearing loss.
In recent years there have been successful turn arounds by steroid treatment. However, that treatment has to happen within a few days of the occurrence of the sudden loss. An unfortunate reality is that far too many ER, PCP, PA professionals are not well informed about hearing loss, especially this kind. They don't realize that this condition needs immediate treatment. To complicate it even further, it is difficult to get in to see an ENT specialist immediately.
Among the people I know who have experienced SSNHL, most have had success with cochlear implants after learning their hearing is not going to come back. There is hope out there.
Hearing loss, especially that of adult onset, is life changing. It means a person has to learn new strategies on how to live well with it. Most adult onset hearing loss comes on gradually rather than suddenly. While that may sound easier to deal with, it is difficult because the person who has it often doesn't realize it even though everyone with whom they associate knows that something isn't right.
Coming to MCC to discuss these issues is the beginning of coping. Learning we are not alone helps. It helps even more when you have the opportunity to meet others like you in person. I highly recommend joining HLAA for information, for peer support and to become an advocate for more education, research and understanding of the invisible disability of hearing loss. http://www.hearingloss.org If there is an HLAA chapter near you, consider attending their meetings. Some chapters hold meetings on Zoom. While that isn't 'in person', you do have the opportunity to identify with people whom you will see and be able to learn from.
If anyone experiences sudden hearing loss it's extremely important to get treatment within a few days of onset. See an ear/nose/throat specialist. Be sure to tell them when trying to schedule an appointment that SSNHL is the reason it's urgent. Good luck to all. And good luck learning to cope with the realities of hearing loss if it becomes a part of who you are.
I concur with everything you just said and would like to add another caveat for seeking immediate treatment if this happens. Sudden hearing loss can also be a sign of stroke so it is imperative to go to the ER right away. I just wish there was more awareness in our medical community and society as a whole. I have learned a lot in the five years since I first started this journey. I have shared and absorbed a lot of experiences on these Mayo Clinic discussions, and I fully appreciate that they sponsor this forum.
Since it is not an uncommon phenomenon, it would be beneficial if there were some PSAs and perhaps some educational material at health fairs, etc., anything to get the word out. Quick and proper treatment could very well reverse more people's complete hearing loss.
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2 ReactionsI'm literally going crazy. I've had 3 HBOT sessions and I feel like there is still pressure and popping from the treatment in my good ear. I can hear out of it but the sound of my own voice is like an echo and I'm beside myself. The left ear which is the one with sudden deafness also has tinitus. So, all I hear is basically roaring white noise and sometimes a t t t t t sound in addition. I'm cancelling my hbot appt tomorrow and demanding the ent neuro fit me in. I bet they'll tell me she's booked. I'm sorry, but I'm not handling this well at all. It's loud, echoish and I can't see how I can adjust to this. Maybe I should go to an ear hosp in Manhattan.. I don't know what to do
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1 ReactionI encourage you to keep us posted. Also for others who are experiencing something similar to share their experience as well.