Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesSudden Sensorineural Hearing LossDiagnosisTreatmentWhen to Contact a Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Diagnosis
Treatment
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
Experiencingsudden hearing lossin one ear can be frustrating. Fortunately, about half of people who have sudden hearing loss regain their hearing without treatment, and 75% recover their hearing with treatment.
Sudden hearing loss may also accompany other symptoms, including ringing ears (tinnitus) and dizziness.
Continue reading to learn more about hearing loss or sudden muffled hearing in one ear, including how to fix it and whether you can expect your hearing to improve.
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Symptoms of Sudden Hearing Loss in One Ear
The most common symptom of suddenhearing lossin one ear is not being able to hear as well out of that ear. Some people will experience total hearing loss, while others will experience a muffled sound or a reduction in hearing.
Oftentimes, people wake up with sudden hearing loss, but it doesn’t always occur first thing in the morning. The hearing loss may not occur all at once, but over several days.It may come on with the following symptoms:
Possible Causes of Sudden Hearing Loss in One Ear
In most cases, people never identify the cause of their sudden hearing loss. However, sudden hearing loss can broadly be divided into two categories: sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) and sudden conductive hearing loss.
Only about 10% to 15% of people with SSHL have a clear reason for the loss of hearing. The most common causes of SSHL, when they’re able to be identified, are:
Sudden Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss happens when something blocks sound from permeating the ear. Usually, materials like earwax or fluid buildup over time, so the hearing loss is not sudden. However, people may experience sudden conductive hearing loss if they have aforeign object in their earor an injury to the ear drum.
Is Sudden Hearing Loss an Emergency?SSHL is an emergency, and should be treated immediately with a trip to the emergency room. Conductive hearing loss is not an emergency, although it may require prompt medical attention.Try the hum test to see what type of hearing loss you’re experiencing. If you hum and the noise is louder in the ear with normal hearing, you are experiencing SSHL and should seek emergency medical care. If the hum sounds louder in the ear that has hearing loss, you’re experiencing conductive hearing loss. You should call your healthcare provider, but do not need to go to the emergency room.
Is Sudden Hearing Loss an Emergency?
SSHL is an emergency, and should be treated immediately with a trip to the emergency room. Conductive hearing loss is not an emergency, although it may require prompt medical attention.Try the hum test to see what type of hearing loss you’re experiencing. If you hum and the noise is louder in the ear with normal hearing, you are experiencing SSHL and should seek emergency medical care. If the hum sounds louder in the ear that has hearing loss, you’re experiencing conductive hearing loss. You should call your healthcare provider, but do not need to go to the emergency room.
How Is Sudden Hearing Loss Diagnosed?
Once healthcare providers have diagnosed you with hearing loss, they may do other tests to determine why it has occurred. They’ll often examine your ears to rule out conductive hearing loss. Then, they may order amagnetic resonance imaging scan(MRI) and blood tests to find the root cause.
Treatment Options
If you’re experiencing conductive hearing loss, the healthcare provider will help remove whatever is blocking your hearing. That might mean removing a foreign object from your ear, or clearing earwax.
The treatment for SSHL is more complicated. Corticosteroids (either injected or taken in pill form) are the most common treatment, especially if your healthcare provider doesn’t know what’s causing the SSHL.
If your healthcare provider can identify the underlying cause of SSHL, they will treat it. They may prescribe antibiotics if they think a bacterial infection is contributing to your hearing loss. If a tumor is causing the hearing loss, they may recommend surgery to remove it. Healthcare providers can prescribe drugs to suppress the immune system for autoimmune diseases.
People can regain their hearing with treatment, but if your hearing doesn’t return your healthcare provider may recommend hearing aids to help you cope with the sudden hearing loss.
You should always see a healthcare provider when you experience sudden hearing loss in one ear. Early treatment is important, especially if the loss comes on suddenly or you believe you might be experiencing SSHL. People who delay treatment are less likely to regain their hearing, so seeing a healthcare provider soon is crucial.
Summary
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.ENT Health.Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) frequently asked questions (FAQs).Mass Eye and Ear.Is sudden hearing loss an emergency?April 29, 2020.Hearing Loss Association of America.Sudden deafness.National Institutes of Health.Sudden deafness. Sept. 14, 2018.Ahmed OH, Gallant SC, Ruiz R, Wang B, Shapiro WH, Voigt EP.Validity of the hum test, a simple and reliable alternative to the weber test.Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2018;127(6):402-405.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.ENT Health.Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) frequently asked questions (FAQs).Mass Eye and Ear.Is sudden hearing loss an emergency?April 29, 2020.Hearing Loss Association of America.Sudden deafness.National Institutes of Health.Sudden deafness. Sept. 14, 2018.Ahmed OH, Gallant SC, Ruiz R, Wang B, Shapiro WH, Voigt EP.Validity of the hum test, a simple and reliable alternative to the weber test.Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2018;127(6):402-405.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
ENT Health.Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) frequently asked questions (FAQs).Mass Eye and Ear.Is sudden hearing loss an emergency?April 29, 2020.Hearing Loss Association of America.Sudden deafness.National Institutes of Health.Sudden deafness. Sept. 14, 2018.Ahmed OH, Gallant SC, Ruiz R, Wang B, Shapiro WH, Voigt EP.Validity of the hum test, a simple and reliable alternative to the weber test.Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2018;127(6):402-405.
ENT Health.Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) frequently asked questions (FAQs).
Mass Eye and Ear.Is sudden hearing loss an emergency?April 29, 2020.
Hearing Loss Association of America.Sudden deafness.
National Institutes of Health.Sudden deafness. Sept. 14, 2018.
Ahmed OH, Gallant SC, Ruiz R, Wang B, Shapiro WH, Voigt EP.Validity of the hum test, a simple and reliable alternative to the weber test.Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2018;127(6):402-405.
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