Sudden One-Sided Hearing Loss: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Sudden One-Sided Hearing Loss: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Noticing you suddenly can't hear out of one ear can be alarming. However, while unsettling, unilateral hearing loss often resolves or can be effectively managed if promptly identified and treated.

What is sudden sensorineural hearing loss?

Hearing loss confined to just one ear is termed unilateral hearing loss. The sudden onset form is also called sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL).

Sensorineural refers to issues involving the sensory organ within the inner ear or auditory nerves leading to the brain. In contrast, conductive hearing losses relate to outer or middle ear structures.

Understanding the severity scale

Unilateral hearing loss ranges from mild to profound in how severely it affects detection of sound. Audiograms measuring hearing sensitivity help categorize severity objectively for accurate diagnosis.

Mild losses mean thresholds between 26-40 decibels (dB). Speech is usually normal. Moderate losses fall from 41-55 dB range. Speech comprehension suffers in noisy settings.

For losses exceeding 55dB, hearing aids often become necessary. From 56-70 dB is moderate-severe, 71-90 is severe, while >91 dB profound. Over 90 dB, speech and environmental sounds are unlikely to be intelligible without intervention.

Common Causes of Sudden One-Sided Deafness

SSNHL arises from dysfunctions along the auditory pathway passing signals from the ear to the brain. Myriad causes exist, including:

Infections

Viruses like cytomegalovirus, herpes and measles can instigate inflammation inside the cochlea. Bacterial infections via conditions like meningitis may also damage structures.

Blood circulation disruption

The inner ear relies on tiny blood vessels for oxygen and nutrients. Clots or constriction of these vessels leads to cellular damage. Causes range from abnormal blood fats to migraines.

Physical or acoustic trauma

Injuries like skull fractures, explosive blasts or major blows can fracture temporal bone housing the cochlea. Even exposure to extremely loud noises causes structural harm.

Autoimmune disorders

Illnesses causing abnormal immune responses frequently spark ear issues. These include Cogan's syndrome, systemic lupus, polyarteritis nodosa among others targeting hearing organs.

Ménière's disease

This inner ear disorder features fluid buildup and swelling of surrounding membranes. Attacks cause vertigo plus fluctuating tinnitus, hearing loss and aural fullness.

Vestibular schwannoma

Noncancerous growths along the balance and hearing nerves arise in this condition. Gradual one-sided loss manifests as tumors compress pathways.

Medications

Antibiotics like gentamicin or cancer drugs such as cisplatin are infamous for ototoxic effects. Many compounds cross into the inner ear fluid to damage sound processing cells.

Presenting Symptoms Beyond Deafness

While the hallmark sign is reduced hearing affecting one side, SSNHL may announce itself through associated complaints including:

Tinnitus

Alongside unilateral deafness, ringing, buzzing or roaring noises frequently arise in the impaired ear canal. Tinnitus results from changes in nerve signals post-hearing loss.

Lightheadedness or vertigo

Balance mechanisms connect closely with hearing pathways. Distortions here give sensations of the room spinning, floating or tilting.

Ear fullness or pressure

Congestion deep inside the ear canal often accompanies cochlear inflammation. A plugged, muffled or underwater feeling may occur just before or with SSNHL.

Facial weakness

If hearing loss stems from acoustic neuroma growths, they can grow large enough to affect adjacent nerves like the facial nerve. Weakness or paralysis of facial muscles may manifest.

Clinical Evaluation for Sudden One-Sided Deafness

Seeking prompt medical attention maximizes chances of uncovering reversible causes and rehabilitating loss severity. Initial appointments involve:

History and physical examination

Doctors review medical background, recent illnesses or exposures and timeline of symptoms arising. They visually inspect the ears and test cranial nerves.

Hearing tests

Audiometry provides objective severity data through headphones emitting tones to map out internal auditory function.

Imaging procedures

MRI or CT scans visualize ear anatomy and nerve pathways in detail. They reveal fixable causes like tumors or lesions amenable to surgery.

Bloodwork

Lab tests analyzing blood components can uncover contributors like infections, vascular issues or autoimmune disorders.

Treatments to Reverse or Aid One-Sided Deafness

Outcomes for unilateral hearing loss vary based on underlying cause and speed of intervention. Addressing fixable triggers or augmenting auditory function improves prognosis. Management options include:

Medications

Corticosteroids like prednisone aim to reduce inflammation interfering with hearing. Antivirals, like Valacyclovir for herpes, treat contributory viral infections. Diuretics may lessen fluid pressures.

Hearing aids and implants

These devices capture and amplify sounds into the impaired ear for boosted input. Bone conduction fittings bypass outer ear mechanisms for delivery into inner ear bones instead.

Surgery

Operative approaches directly resolve structural issues if present, as through acoustic neuroma removal. Cochlear implants substitute damaged sensory cells with electrode arrays.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy

This treatment saturates tissues with extra oxygen at higher atmospheric pressures. It aids recovery mechanisms in partially damaged cochlear hair cells.

Coping With Permanent One-Sided Deafness

Even with best efforts, interventions sometimes fail with hearing function unable to be salvaged. But unilateral deafness does not preclude living an active, fulfilling lifestyle after adaptation.

Communication training, preferential seating, device customization and clear speech help overcome the deficit. Joining support groups also lends solidarity in the shared experience.

Losing hearing in one ear may feel frightening or limiting initially. Yet by understanding the cause and pursuing constructive solutions, quality of life can still be preserved.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.