Sudden Hearing Loss: Causes and Treatment – The ear is a hearing device that is included in one of the important sensory organs. A hearing will determine whether a communication is good. Maintaining ear health is the same as maintaining hearing function so that it can work properly. But unfortunately because some factors of hearing function become reduced.
One in six people experience hearing loss overnight. Some of you may have experienced sudden hearing loss at least once in life. When you experience sudden hearing loss, the sound around you suddenly dampens as it sounds from a distance. Usually this condition affects only one ear and can return to normal in a few days. However, sudden hearing loss is also not to be underestimated.
Many people know they experience this when they get up early and one of their ears can’t hear anything. Or others know when they’re busy doing their daily activities and then the surrounding sounds are muted, as they are heard from afar. Sometimes, there are some other symptoms that arise when a person experiences this, the ears are depressed, the head feels light, and the ears are ringing.
SSHL, also known as sudden hearing loss, is interpreted as decreasing at least 30 decibels of more than three frequencies over a short period of time.
Sudden hearing loss differs from temporary hearing loss that can be caused by the buildup of earwax, colds or exposure to loud noises. However, the symptoms are initially the same, so many people do not do the treatment and will end up with a permanent hearing loss.
There are several conditions that may cause sudden hearing loss.
Causes of sudden hearing loss.
Sudden hearing loss seems most common in those aged between 30 and 60 years, especially those who experience viral infections, blood circulation problems, ear infections, trauma in the head, and have the multiple sclerosis disease. Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL) or loss of hearing is a decline of at least 30 decibels more than three frequencies over a short period of time.
Sudden hearing loss or sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) includes hearing loss caused by damage to the inner ear hair cells or nerve pathways that lead from the inner ear to the brain.
In addition to water intrusion, following are some causes of the most common sudden hearing loss:
- Iron deficiency Anemia.
- Viral infections.
- Eardrums rupture.
- Head or acoustic Trauma.
- Tumor.
- Drugs.
- Multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Autoimmune diseases, such as Cogan’s syndrome.
- Blood circulation disorder.
- Inner ear Disorders.
- Exposure to loud noises constantly during work.
- Diabetes.
Exposure to loud noises constantly during work.
Workplace noise, e.g. Airplane parking, machinists, engine sounds in factories or buildings, motorcycles or other electrical appliances can damage hearing over time. At rest, try not to be close to the noise source and use a comfortable and suitable earphone or ear protector.
Sudden hearing loss is also associated with diabetes, blood circulation disorder makes a lack of oxygen on the cochlea in the inner ear, which eventually inflicts permanent damage to the auditory nerves in the inner ear.
Research shows that diabetic patients with sugar levels per three months (HbA1C) are greater than eight percent, over a period of more than 10 years, and the prevalence of nerve deafness reaches 85 percent.
Treatment of sudden hearing loss.
Quick actions are crucial to restoring your hearing. Make sure you may visit an ENT doctor for further experience and, of course, be more serious, to avoid unwanted things.
SSHL is most often treated with high-dose oral steroids, or in some cases injection of steroids into the ears, to help reduce swelling and inflammation.
It is recommended that SSHL sufferers should be treated in two to three days from initial hearing loss to achieve the best results. Waiting for more than two weeks to get medical treatment, will likely result in total hearing loss in the affected ear.