Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: get your hearing tested immediately

Dr Jeff
Dec 5
2 min read

Imagine waking up and realising you can’t hear properly in one ear. Or perhaps you are out and about then your head fills with pressure, your ear pops and your hearing disappears. It’s easy to dismiss this as wax or perhaps an ear infection or some middle ear congestion. At best, this could be the case however, it could also be a serious inner ear problem termed "sudden sensorineural hearing loss" (SSNHL). SSNHL is a medical emergency that needs urgent investigation and treatment. Don't wait days to see the GP, you need to seek out professional audiological advice and testing on the very same day.

What is SSNHL?

SSNHL is defined as a rapid loss of hearing (usually in one ear) of at least 30 dB across three consecutive frequencies, occurring within 72 hours. It affects approximately 5–30 adults per 100,000 each year, most commonly between ages 30 and 60. Symptoms often include tinnitus, a feeling of fullness in the ear, and sometimes dizziness.

Causation isn't always known - "idiopathic". In other cases, vascular events involving cochlear blood supply or inner ear viral attacks may be involved.

Why is it an Emergency?

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and ENT UK guidelines classify SSNHL as an otological emergency. If hearing loss developed suddenly within the past 30 days, patients should be referred for specialist assessment within 24 hours. Delays can lead to permanent hearing loss and sometimes tinnitus.

Treatment: Time is Critical

Spontaneous recovery occurs in 30–68% of cases, but early steroid treatment can double the chances of recovery. Oral corticosteroids are the standard first-line therapy, ideally started within the first week of onset. Intratympanic steroid injections may also be considered. A recent systematic review confirms that treatment within two weeks of onset significantly improves outcomes, while delays beyond this window sharply reduce recovery rates. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30084293/

What Should You Do?

If you or someone you know experiences sudden hearing loss:

Act immediately—do not wait to see if it improves.
Contact your GP or NHS 111 and insist on same-day ENT referral. This may involve heading to the A & E department of the hospital.
Avoid self-treating with over-the-counter remedies; steroids require medical supervision.
If you can, quickly seek out a diagnostic hearing test and ear examination through an independent audiologist before heading to A&E, for appropriate triaging. A reputable audiologist will recognise the urgency and advise/help accordingly.

Key Takeaway

SSNHL is rare but serious. Quick action, ideally within 24–48 hours can make the difference between full recovery and permanent hearing loss. Don't ignore the problem. Only a diagnostic hearing test and middle ear pressure test will be able to determine hearing loss type and severity.

FYI In the last 12 months 2024/25, Dr. Jeff at Ear Care Specialists has seen and referred three patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.