Sudden Hearing Loss

Sudden hearing loss is a medial urgency and should be evaluated for treatment within 24-48 hours. Usually occurring "out of the blue" for the patient, sudden loss may be caused by viral infection, breaks of delicate structures within the inner ear, trauma (a blow to the ear, airline flight for example), an interruption in the blood supply of the cochlea, brain tumors, and many more rare causes. Prompt evaluation and treatment increases the chance of restoring hearing. Complete medical work-up is important to rule out serious causes. CEHC Physicians may use an audiogram, auditory brainstem response, electrocochleography, stacked band derived auditory brainstem response, CT scan or MR imaging to define the cause of the disorder. In up to 70% of cases, treatment produces a partial or full return of hearing status. Early initiation of medical therapy increases the chance of hearing return.