Sudden Hearing Loss

Sudden hearing loss or sudden sensorineural hearing loss, SSNHL, is defined as a loss greater than 30 dB in three contiguous frequencies, occurring over a period of less than three days. A sudden hearing loss should be assessed by a doctor on an emergency basis. It may be noticed upon awakening in the morning or develop rapidly over hours or days. 70 percent of SSNHL patients also suffer from tinnitus. Vertigo is present in 50 percent of the SSNHL cases. The incidence increases with age: 4.7 in 100,000 people 20-30 years old, and 15.8 per 100,000 in those 50-60 years of age. Spontaneous recovery occurs in 30-70 percent of the cases, usually within the first two weeks. The chances of full hearing recovery are smaller for patients with severe loss of hearing and when the SSNHL is accompanied by vertigo. The younger the patient, the likelier a full recovery. The causes of SSNHL vary widely. In the 30-70 percent of cases with permanent hearing loss, SSNHL may be treated with various types of hearing aids or cochlear implants, as determined by your hearing health specialists. Source: Hearing Review, December 2003, Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss special issue.