Sudden Hearing Loss

Sudden Hearing Loss (SHL) – is a disease occurring with the sudden hearing reduction. This disease is defined as neurogenic hearing loss greater than dB hearing reduction (a unit of sound intensity) over the last 3 contiguous frequencies occurring over the period less than 3 days.

The patient with SHL can feel roaring, congestion, clang, and sometimes dizziness along with hearing loss. The cause of SHL is not known in 85 – 90% cases. Causes related to vessels and virus origin, rupture of membranes in the inner ear, autoimmune and tumor diseases are among the reasons which should be emphasized. Though there is self-healing between 1/3 and 2/3 of patients, the chance for recovery in patients with dizziness and whose treatment hasnt started within the first 3 weeks is much lower.

These patients appear to have normal external ear canal and tympanic membrane (or endrum) in their examination. Hearing loss, the degree of hearing and its frequency in that ear is determined as a result hearing test. It is determined whether there is any tumor or not in auditory - vestibular nerve by the captured MRT. It occurs rarely. Though the tumor called “Acoustic neuroma” is observed in 1 patient out of a hundred SHL patients, 10 of 100 patients with Acoustic neuroma apply with SHL. If the children is ill, in this case, ear CT is taken and it is determined whether there is anatomical abnormality or not.

First of all, the cause should be investigated in SHL and treatment appropriate for it should be conducted. However, the cause cannot be found in 15% of these patients. General treatment should be carried out in the majority of patients whose cause cannot be found.

Vascular expansion supplements, antiviral drugs, diuretics, and means to improve blood circulation are used in the treatment. Mostly, cortisone therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy are used for this.

Though cortisone is used as a tablet and injection for the middle ear, as standard, it is given as a tablet. Starting dose is 1mg/kg and it is gradually reduced and it is suspended within 2 -3 weeks. Cortisone may have side effects such as increase in blood sugar and blood pressure, worsening sore in the stomach with burning and softening of the bones. For this reason, it should be attentively used in the patients with diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, stomach ulcer, softening of the bone. Patients treated with cortisone should be fed with unsalted food and receive stomach protective drugs.

Recently, cortisone injection into the ear is widely used. Cortisone given for the middle ear passes through the inner ear from round membrane and impacts. This treatment is conducted in the patients who cannot administer cortisone orally or intravenously (for its side effects) or those who cannot obtain any positive result with classical treatment.

100% oxygen is given in session under a high pressure in a private cabin in the treatment of hyperbaric oxygen and as standard, 20 sessions and maximally, 40 sessions are conducted. It is well administered by patients, rarely, it may have a side effect such as “barotrauma” in the ear related to pressure.

It can be regarded as a success if an ear with severe hearing loss is brought in the state that the hearing device can be used.