Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL)
- Jun 16
- 2 min read
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is a medical emergency.
If you suspect you have sudden sensorineural hearing loss, please contact us directly by phone (250) 590-1122 to organize an urgent diagnostic assessment. If our clinic is closed, or it's a weekend/holiday, proceed to your nearest urgent care clinic or emergency department for treatment.
What is Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL)?
Rapid Onset: SSNHL happens quickly - either immediately or over a few days.
Sensorineural: The hearing loss originates in the inner ear (cochlea) or the auditory nerve.
Unilateral: It usually affects only one ear, but can sometimes occur in both.
Medical Emergency: Sudden hearing loss is a medical emergency, and prompt treatment is crucial.
What are symptoms of sudden hearing loss?
Hearing Loss: Diminished hearing, sounds are unclear, muffled, garbled, or distorted.
Tinnitus: Ringing or buzzing in the affected ear.
Aural Fullness: A feeling of pressure or blockage in the ear, or feeling like your ear needs to pop.
Dizziness: Some individuals may experience vertigo, dizziness or balance problems.
What caused my sudden hearing loss?
Possible Causes:
Unknown (Idiopathic): The cause is often not identifiable.
Viral Infections: Certain viral infections, such as mumps, have been linked to SSNHL.
Vascular Issues: Problems with blood flow to the inner ear can also cause SSNHL.
Autoimmune Disorders: In some cases, the immune system may attack the inner ear.
Other Conditions: Head trauma, certain medications, and tumors can also cause SSNHL.
Will my hearing come back?
About half of people with SSNHL recover at least some hearing without treatment.
People with mild to severe (but not complete) hearing loss often respond well to steroid treatment, their chance of recovery is high (about 75–80%).
Early treatment improves chances of getting your hearing back.
People with very severe (profound) hearing loss, dizziness (vertigo), or age over 65 have a lower chance of recovery.
In more serious cases, it’s important to talk with your healthcare provider about more aggressive treatment options
Hearing recovery can take time — it may take 6 weeks or longer after treatment ends for hearing to return.
How is sudden hearing loss treated?
There are many treatments for sudden hearing loss.
Watchful waiting: Many people may get hearing back on their own.
Steroids: Either in pill form or via injection (intratympanic steroid injections).
Your Otolaryngologist (ENT) will guide you with the appropriate treatment for your case.
Talk to your ENT and healthcare provider about side effects from any treatment you are considering.
What else can I expect?
Sudden hearing loss can feel scary and overwhelming - it's common to feel embarrassed, angry, frustrated, worried, lonely or depressed. Talking to a counsellor, Audiologist, ENT, or primary care provider can help you cope with these feelings.
You may have one or more follow-up hearing tests to monitor your improvement. If your hearing does not fully recover, you can talk to your Audiologist about hearing aids to help you hear better. Tinnitus (ringing in the ear) is often loud at first, but usually improves over time. Your audiologist can review practical strategies with you to help make your tinnitus easier to manage, and it may improve as your hearing returns.
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