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Sudden, unclear deafness is a term that refers to an acute, partial or complete loss of hearing in one ear for no apparent reason (e.g. exposure to high noise levels, taking medications that damage hearing, ear or head injury, inflammatory diseases of the ear, viral diseases, severe , sudden mental stress, etc.).
What is sudden hearing loss of unknown origin?
It is a sudden condition characterized by a sudden partial or complete loss of hearing in one or both ears for no apparent reason. Sudden hearing loss is probably caused by a disturbance in the blood vessel system of the inner ear. These abnormalities may be due to vascular spasm or an embolism in the lumen of the vessel. The consequence is hypoxia of the sensory cells of the hearing organ and its dysfunction, which is manifested by deafness. Sudden hearing loss of unclear origin can be a reversible condition. It is important to administer vasodilating anticoagulants as soon as possible, so the patient should go to the hospital as soon as possible.
Causes of sudden deafness of unclear origin
Sudden deafness of unclear origin is among the symptoms of full health and without any preceding signs. It is assumed (as mentioned above) that such hearing loss is most likely caused by disturbances in the particularly sensitive blood vessel system of the inner ear. Diseases related to ear diseases can also be risk factors, including:
- otosclerosis,
- previous head injuries (direct – hit by high voltage current; lightning strike; acoustic and indirect trauma – cervical vertebrae dislocation),
- prolonged exposure to noise,
- genetic hearing loss,
- chronic ear inflammation,
- viral damage (measles, mumps, shingles, ear shingles).
Symptoms of sudden deafness of unclear origin
A person with sudden hearing loss complains of:
- dizziness,
- feeling of ear clogging
- feeling of the presence of a foreign body in the ear,
- fullness in the ear,
- Tinnitus,
- sometimes imbalance,
- whistling / squeaking in ears (rarely).
If you experience the symptoms mentioned above, do not hesitate and see a doctor as soon as possible. Prompt diagnosis and implementation of appropriate treatment can save you from complete deafness.
Sudden deafness of unclear origin – recognition
Patients showing symptoms indicating severe hearing loss should consult a physician. The specialist will conduct an otolaryngological examination and general examinations. To be XNUMX% sure that there is a sudden deafness, perform audiological diagnostics:
- impedance audiometry testing;
- tonal audiometry test.
On the other hand, imaging tests used in the diagnosis of sudden deafness include computed tomography of the head and magnetic resonance imaging with contrast (in justified cases).
Treatment of sudden deafness of unclear origin
In the treatment of sudden deafness, preparations are used to improve microcirculation as well as drugs that inhibit platelet aggregation and affect clotting. Some patients may require anti-inflammatory, anti-edema, anti-viral therapy or even treatment with hyperbaric oxygen. Patients with severe hearing loss are recommended to administer the agents directly into the tympanic cavity.
One group of medications of great importance includes steroids that are administered either into the tympanic cavity or generally. The second group of drugs are preparations that expand and inhibit vasoconstriction. In addition, in patients who are prone to embolism in the course of arrhythmias or thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities – additional anticoagulants should be administered.
There are scientific reports that in the treatment of sudden deafness a good effect is obtained after the use of a hyperbaric chamber.
In addition, the following are also recommended in the treatment of sudden deafness:
- neuroprotective drugs,
- B vitamins,
- magnesium,
- anti-inflammatory drugs.
Important! The application of preparations into the tympanic cavity is important in overburdened people who cannot use steroids in general, e.g. due to diabetes or arterial hypertension. Hospitalization of patients with sudden deafness takes about 7 days.
Prognosis of sudden deafness
It all depends on the cause and the symptoms and accompanying diseases. For example, dizziness can be a symptom of concern as well as diabetes or vascular disease. Hearing is a very important sense organ, so you should consult a doctor as soon as possible, who will implement the appropriate type of treatment and protect the patient from permanent complete loss of hearing.
The prognosis is worse in patients whose sudden deafness affects the entire frequency bands, and in addition, there are imbalances. The unfavorable factors significantly lowering a good prognosis include:
- diabetes
- hypertension,
- tendency to embolism and thrombosis,
- the patient’s age (especially older),
- too late diagnosis and starting treatment (the optimal time for reporting to a doctor and starting treatment is about 24 hours).
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