{"id":1464,"date":"2025-11-24T10:11:52","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T07:11:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gedizserin.com\/en\/?p=1464"},"modified":"2025-11-24T10:11:52","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T07:11:52","slug":"what-is-sudden-hearing-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gedizserin.com\/en\/what-is-sudden-hearing-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Sudden Hearing Loss?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Prof. Dr. Gediz Murat Serin \u2013 Ear Nose Throat Specialist<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Sudden hearing loss is a hearing loss that mostly occurs in <strong>one ear<\/strong> and progresses rapidly within a few hours or a few days. Patients often present with the feeling of &#8220;suddenly the ear closed.&#8221;<br \/>\nThis condition is <strong>an emergency ENT problem<\/strong>; accurate diagnosis and rapid treatment are of great importance for the recovery of hearing.<\/p>\n<p>This condition, which is much more common in society than estimated, especially occurs in the middle age group (40\u201360 years); however, it can be seen at any age.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">\u0130ndex<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gedizserin.com\/en\/what-is-sudden-hearing-loss\/#Which_Symptoms_Suggest_Sudden_Hearing_Loss\" >Which Symptoms Suggest Sudden Hearing Loss?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gedizserin.com\/en\/what-is-sudden-hearing-loss\/#What_Are_the_Causes_of_Sudden_Hearing_Loss\" >What Are the Causes of Sudden Hearing Loss?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gedizserin.com\/en\/what-is-sudden-hearing-loss\/#How_Is_Diagnosis_Made\" >How Is Diagnosis Made?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gedizserin.com\/en\/what-is-sudden-hearing-loss\/#Treatment_Methods\" >Treatment Methods<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gedizserin.com\/en\/what-is-sudden-hearing-loss\/#1_Steroid_treatment_First_choice\" >1. Steroid treatment (First choice)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gedizserin.com\/en\/what-is-sudden-hearing-loss\/#2_Cause-specific_treatment\" >2. Cause-specific treatment<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gedizserin.com\/en\/what-is-sudden-hearing-loss\/#3_Cases_where_recovery_is_insufficient\" >3. Cases where recovery is insufficient<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gedizserin.com\/en\/what-is-sudden-hearing-loss\/#Recovery_rates\" >Recovery rates<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gedizserin.com\/en\/what-is-sudden-hearing-loss\/#Conclusion_Dont_Wait_Apply_Early\" >Conclusion: Don&#8217;t Wait, Apply Early<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_Symptoms_Suggest_Sudden_Hearing_Loss\"><\/span>Which Symptoms Suggest Sudden Hearing Loss?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Patients often describe their complaints as follows:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Sudden decrease in hearing or complete closure sensation in one ear<\/li>\n<li>Noticing a significant hearing decrease in the ear upon waking up in the morning<\/li>\n<li>Difficulty hearing the phone in that ear<\/li>\n<li>Sounds coming muffled, whispered, or echoing<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ringing<\/strong>, <strong>buzzing<\/strong>, <strong>pressure\/fullness<\/strong> in the ear<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dizziness<\/strong> accompanying sudden loss<\/li>\n<li>Decrease in hearing after hearing a &#8220;click&#8221; or &#8220;pop&#8221; sound<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If even one of these symptoms is present, <strong>evaluation by an ENT specialist on the same day is required<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_the_Causes_of_Sudden_Hearing_Loss\"><\/span>What Are the Causes of Sudden Hearing Loss?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In most cases of sudden hearing loss, no obvious cause is detected and this condition is called <strong>idiopathic<\/strong>. However, underlying factors can be identified in some patients:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Viral infections (especially after flu)<\/li>\n<li>Disruption of inner ear circulation<\/li>\n<li>Trauma (head injury, sudden pressure change)<\/li>\n<li>Autoimmune inner ear diseases<\/li>\n<li>Ototoxic drugs (e.g., chemotherapy drugs)<\/li>\n<li>Auditory nerve tumors such as acoustic neuroma<\/li>\n<li>Neurological diseases (e.g., MS)<\/li>\n<li>M\u00e9ni\u00e8re&#8217;s disease<\/li>\n<li>Conditions related to high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Important Note:<\/strong> Nasal congestion, earwax, or sinusitis can also lead to decreased hearing, but these are &#8220;conductive type&#8221; losses; they are completely different from sudden sensorineural loss.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Is_Diagnosis_Made\"><\/span>How Is Diagnosis Made?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The evaluation that must be done without delay in sudden hearing loss consists of the following steps:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Otoscopic examination:<\/strong> The ear canal and eardrum are examined in detail. Conditions such as earwax, infection, or fluid in the middle ear are ruled out.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hearing Test (Audiometry):<\/strong> The type and degree of loss are determined.<\/li>\n<li><strong>MRI imaging for inner ear \u2013 auditory nerve if sudden hearing loss (must be checked)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>If necessary:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Tympanometry<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Balance test<\/strong> can be performed depending on suspicion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Correct diagnosis by a specialist is critically important for treatment selection.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Treatment_Methods\"><\/span>Treatment Methods<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Treatment timing is as important as the treatment itself.<br \/>\n<strong>The first 48\u201372 hours<\/strong> is the period with the highest success rate.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Steroid_treatment_First_choice\"><\/span>1. Steroid treatment (First choice)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Oral corticosteroid<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Intratympanic (through the eardrum into the middle ear) steroid injection<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In some patients, both methods can be used together. Cortisone helps hearing return by reducing sudden inflammation and edema in the inner ear.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Cause-specific_treatment\"><\/span>2. Cause-specific treatment<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Cleaning if there is earwax<\/li>\n<li>Antibiotic or antiviral treatment if it is infection-related<\/li>\n<li>Discontinuation of ototoxic drugs if present<\/li>\n<li>Regulation of blood pressure or sugar control<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Cases_where_recovery_is_insufficient\"><\/span>3. Cases where recovery is insufficient<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If hearing loss becomes permanent, according to the patient&#8217;s needs:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Hearing aid<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Cochlear implant (bionic ear)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>can be evaluated.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Recovery_rates\"><\/span>Recovery rates<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>In approximately 80\u201385% of patients receiving early treatment,<\/strong> hearing returns partially or completely.<\/li>\n<li>In those not receiving treatment, spontaneous recovery is <strong>around 50%<\/strong>, but full recovery is lower.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion_Dont_Wait_Apply_Early\"><\/span>Conclusion: Don&#8217;t Wait, Apply Early<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Sudden hearing loss is not a condition that &#8220;can be waited to pass.&#8221;<br \/>\nEvery hour of delay may reduce the chance of recovery.<\/p>\n<p>If you experience sudden hearing decrease, ringing, or fullness in one ear:<br \/>\n<strong>Consult an ENT specialist on the same day.<\/strong><br \/>\nWith early diagnosis and rapid treatment, most patients can largely regain their hearing.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Prof. Dr. Gediz Murat Serin \u2013 Ear Nose Throat Specialist Sudden hearing loss is a hearing loss that mostly occurs in one ear and progresses rapidly within a few hours or a few days. Patients often present with the feeling of &#8220;suddenly the ear closed.&#8221; This condition is an emergency ENT problem; accurate diagnosis and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1465,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1464","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ent-diseases"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gedizserin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1464","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gedizserin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gedizserin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gedizserin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gedizserin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1464"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gedizserin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1464\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1466,"href":"https:\/\/www.gedizserin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1464\/revisions\/1466"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gedizserin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1465"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gedizserin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1464"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gedizserin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1464"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gedizserin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1464"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}