Acute hearing loss: what to do if it happens to you
Suddenly losing almost all of your hearing in one ear can be very alarming. Acute hearing loss usually occurs without warning, and can affect people of all ages. What should you do if it happens to you, and how can you prevent it? Read this health tip for the answers.
27.11.2024 | 3 minutes reading time
Author:
Content-Team SWICA
Content-Team SWICA
All of a sudden it feels as though the world has been packed in cotton wool. Voices and sounds are muffled, as if everything is happening behind a pane of glass. This is what it feels like to experience acute hearing loss. We still don't know exactly what causes this condition. We assume that there may be more than one trigger, such as stress or disruptions in the ear's blood supply. In order to be able to accurately diagnose acute hearing loss, it's important to be familiar with the symptoms.
What happens in episodes of acute hearing loss?
Sufferers lose most or almost all of their hearing in one ear. It's like trying to hear through cotton wool, and hissing, humming or ringing noises (tinnitus) can sometimes also be heard. Acute hearing loss often happens during the night, and is first noticed the next day. The condition can make it difficult to understand others – particularly if they are talking into the affected ear.
There is a difference between sudden hearing loss and a slow, age-related deterioration in your hearing or blockage of your ear caused by a build-up of earwax. When your ear canal becomes blocked with earwax, this usually happens over the course of a few days or directly after showering or washing your hair, as the moisture causes the wax to swell even further. The symptoms are very similar to sudden hearing loss, so you should always bear this possibility in mind if your hearing is impaired out of the blue. If you're not sure whether your ear might be blocked, it's worth having it looked at and/or syringed. You can now have this done at certain pharmacists (e.g. aprioris pharmacies).
What should I do if I experience acute hearing loss?
If the symptoms described above persist for more than a day and there is no obvious cause, such as a cold or ear infection, then you may be experiencing acute hearing loss. In this case, it's important to quickly seek out a medical professional at an ear, nose and throat (ENT) clinic. You stand the best chance of making a full recovery if treatment starts within the first 72 hours after experiencing the symptoms.
Acute hearing loss is usually treated using cortisone, which reduces inflammation and promotes the circulation of blood in the ear. If symptoms persist despite treatment, it may be necessary to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the auditory nerve in more detail.
In addition to seeking medical treatment, it's very important for sufferers to reduce their day-to-day stress levels because stressors (mental or physical) can negatively affect recovery.
In addition to seeking medical treatment, it's very important for sufferers to reduce their day-to-day stress levels because stressors (mental or physical) can negatively affect recovery.
How can I prevent acute hearing loss?
Although it's often impossible to attribute acute hearing loss to a single cause, there are some steps you can take to lower your risk. Here are some ideas:
- Reduce stress. Persistent stress causes many conditions, and it is assumed that acute hearing loss is one of them. Take short breaks in your day to lower your stress levels. Practise relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga or a taking a walk in the fresh air.
- Generally maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eating a balanced diet and getting enough exercise will help keep your cardiovascular system healthy.
- Don't smoke. Stopping smoking can improve the blood circulation and health of your inner ear.
- Protect your ears. You can't always avoid loud environments, so it's worth using ear defenders or ear plugs at concerts or loud workplaces.
In the event of further health-related questions, SWICA customers can contact the santé24 telemedicine service free of charge on +41 44 404 86 86. A telemedicine practice licence allows santé24 physicians to provide additional medical services in cases that are suited to a telemedicine approach. SWICA customers can also use the BENECURA medical app to carry out a digital SymptomCheck and receive recommendations about what to do next. During a subsequent phone call with santé24, customers can decide for themselves whether to release their information from SymptomCheck to santé24.
