Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Medical Emergency - by Adam Cassis MD

Dr Adam Cassis, Otologist/Neurotologist for Valley ENT discusses Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL) at ENT Update for the Primary Care Provider 2021.
Objectives:
Identify the impact of SSNHL
Recognize sudden SSNHL in clinical setting
Discuss ear exam and how it applies to this process
Discuss appropriate treatment and referral pattern.

[@mdavis05]

Yup, I waited too long and now have to wear a hearing aid in one ear and have chronic tinnitus. Wish this would be more public knowledge.

[@markholmes7282]

Wow, that's exactly what I needed to know. Lost my hearing in right ear two weeks ago. Now, on steroids. Doing mri next year. There is not much improvement so far, but I'm hopeful.

[@joshuang7488]

Have you fully recovered?

[@douglasanderson153]

Thank you so much Sir.

[@douglasanderson153]

This is excellent

[@DR-di3kt]

Lost my hearing in right ear about 2 years ago. Had all the treatment right away. I didn't regain any hearing. I tested for covid immediately, and was negative. Any ideas?

[@lp8688]

I wish I knew this earlier. Lost one hearing completely.

[@doloresmirafeldao-ines9246]

is their a treatment for profound sensorineural hearing loss

[@cariboux2]

I was just diagnosed today. Happened four days ago. Profound. I am now taking 60mg prednisone per day (first day) and am going to be receiving intratympanic steroid injection tomorrow. I have no clue if these will do any good. The doctor said my odds aren't good. I also have tinnitus with it.

[@HyrumEstrada1984]

@@cariboux2 What is the update with your situation? a family member is going through the exact same scenerio that you are

[@cariboux2]

@@HyrumEstrada1984 How ya doin'? Well, it's been one hell of a ride, I'll tell ya. But don't let what I'm about to say get you down, there's a somewhat decent "ending" (current situation). So, I went through all these injections into the eardrum. Surprisingly, they weren't that bad at all. That went on about every week for a month, or thereabouts. Nothing happened, no better. They also gave me free samples of supplements - was told they were not required. I looked them up - snake oil. So, I didn't waste my money on them. Anyway, I had zero hearing in that ear and the tinnitus got worse - absolutely insane - sounded like a hornet's n'est inside my head and gave me a splitting headache. This was non-stop, 24/7. I told them if they needed to do any research, they were welcome to use me because it couldn't get any worse. They did not pursue it. So, several more weeks went by and I started searching for places in which assisted suicide was legal - it was that bad. And then, all of a sudden, I thought I heard something out of that ear. I tested it. I did! And then for a week, things kept getting better - this was now almost a month after my therapy ended and before the next check-up. The tinnitus also subsided. And because I could hear a little, I was also able to mask it a bit with white noise and storms on KZbin. Well, anyway, improvement continued for a couple weeks. Now, I'm not saying things were great, but I was no longer searching for death doctors in Oregon. Then... it plataeaued. I figured that was it. At my next appt, my hearing results were far better than I was expecting, so I think it hadn't plataeaued, but just improved more slowly. I'm a musician and had to stop for quite a while. I renewed Piano lessons and working in the recording studio but stayed far away from loud sounds and wore an earplug when exposed to ANY music. This wasn't ideal, but far better than before. Then after Christmas, there was another improvement streak, so I decided to practice with my bassist. I did everything they told me to do. I wore earplugs and we kept the volume below 90 dB. BIG MISTAKE! The next day, the ringing returned, louder than it had in a month, and the hearing was worse. Well, it took two weeks and it finally got back to where it was. The ONLY sounds that irritate me are low frequency. Anyway, a few more weeks, ups and downs. Then, last week, ANOTHER huge improvement. I'm still not perfect by any standard, but sometimes the tinnitus is almost unnoticeable. And the hearing is probably over 50% (a hell of a lot better than zero!). I've even been playing piano without earplugs. And I am finally able to enjoy music. However, two days ago, I played a bit louder than usual and have had slightly worse tinnitus, but I'm not too worried just yet. This has happened enough now that I know, just go easy for a while. I sent a note to my band stating that even though it may be a while, I am expecting to play with them in a few months (with earplugs!). So, there you have it. All people's stories are different, but that's mine. I have heard that it's critical to start those intrtympanic injections before 10 days go by. But honestly, I don't think anyone knows for sure. I'd do what the doctor says - and if they don't do anything, I'd see another one, stat. Make sure it's an ENT with experience - preferably surgical experience. No quacks! Hope this helps and I hope your buddy does well. It most likely will not go quickly or easily. But there is definitely hope - even after a long time.

[@HyrumEstrada1984]

@@cariboux2 thank you for your detailed reply and sharing your experience. I am glad that at the very least, it is heading in the right direction. Let me ask you, about those ear injections... they weren't that bad? I would think those hurt hurt

[@cariboux2]

@@HyrumEstrada1984 Unbelievably, they did not hurt much at all. I think they gave me novacaine but I can't remember. They injected liquid steroids into the ear to stop any inflammation. The only bad part was that they needed you to hold your head motionless for a 1/2 hour and not swallow, so as not to allow the steroid to exit. I was not always successful at the not swallowing routine, but tried to do it as little as possible. You could feel the cold liquid inside your ear. But no, not bad at all. Way easier than the dentist.