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Sudden hearing loss is one of the more mysterious illnesses
among us when it comes to diagnosis. Even today, many cases of
sudden hearing loss elude definitive diagnosis.
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss refers to a loss of hearing of
30 db (decibels) or more over three adjacent frequencies, as
determined by a hearing test, within a three-day period. A
decibel is a measure of sound. According to the National
Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
(National Institutes of Health), a decibel level of 30 is about
half the level of normal conversation. Often sudden deafness
occurs within a matter of hours. Many people who experience
sudden hearing loss notice it when they wake up in the morning.
Others notice it when they try to use the telephone. The amount
of hearing loss can vary, from mild to severe, and it is often
accompanied by vertigo (dizziness), tinnitus (ringing in the
ears) or both. It usually happens in one ear (unilateral) but
can affect both ears (bilateral). In the United States, an
estimated 4,000 people develop sudden hearing loss each year. It
occurs equally between men and women and most often among those
30 - 60 years of age.
Sudden hearing loss is considered a medical emergency and should
be evaluated as soon as possible, preferably by an ear
specialist. There are many possible causes of sudden hearing
loss; however, the cause often remains unknown even after an
evaluation. Some possible causes are viral infections, trauma to
the ear, autoimmune diseases and some drugs. Sudden hearing loss
sometimes improves or stabilizes on its own or with medical
treatment within a matter of days or weeks, but sometimes it
does not.
A few celebrities have reported experiencing sudden hearing
loss. Radio personality Rush Limbaugh reportedly had cochlear
implant surgery a few years ago after experiencing sudden
hearing loss. Cochlear implants are considered a good
alternative if hearing loss does not improve and hearing
stabilizes in the severe to profound range. Rapper Foxy Brown
reported experiencing sudden hearing loss while in the studio
recording.
You can read more about sudden hearing loss here.
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