Hearing loss often happens gradually over time. However, sometimes it can come on suddenly, either instantly or over the course of a few days. Sudden hearing loss can be a very upsetting and confusing issue to experience. The good news is that temporary hearing loss can often be remedied, especially if diagnosed and treated early. Here, we break down the main causes for temporary or sudden hearing loss, as well as treatment options and (most importantly), what you can do to minimize your risk of experiencing it.
Sudden hearing loss (sometimes called sudden deafness) occurs when you experience an accelerated loss of hearing. It can happen all at once or over the course of several days. Sudden hearing loss is often unilateral, or affects only one ear.
A range of symptoms may accompany sudden hearing loss, such as:
Sudden or temporary hearing loss, as with other types of hearing loss, typically occurs due to one of two reasons:
There are dozens of potential sudden hearing loss causes, and it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact root of the issue. In fact, doctors end up finding a specific cause for the hearing loss in only 10% to 15% of diagnosed cases.1
Here are some potential causes of sudden hearing loss:
Some medications are potentially "ototoxic", which means they can be harmful to ears and hearing. Taking these types of medications can damage the sensory cells of the ear and cause hearing issues such as tinnitus and hearing loss.
There are more than 200 medications known to be ototoxic — many of them are used to treat cancer, heart disease and infections. While some of these medications can cause permanent hearing damage, others result in just a temporary hearing loss. Medications known to cause temporary hearing loss include high doses of aspirin and NSAIDs (ex. ibuprofen), quinine (used to treat malaria), and loop diuretics (often prescribed for heart and kidney conditions).
An abrupt, violent blow to the head, such as might happen in a car accident or explosion, can cause brain concussions and injuries. These injuries can damage the auditory system and pathway, resulting in sudden hearing loss. The middle and inner ear are more commonly affected, particularly the sensitive nerve cells in the cochlea (inner ear). Nerve cell damage can lead to hearing loss, as well as tinnitus.
Sometimes a head injury only affects parts of the outer or middle ear (such as the ear canal or ear drum), resulting in conductive hearing loss. Hearing loss from this kind of damage typically goes away within a few months. However, if the trauma is severe enough to damage the inner ear, the sudden hearing loss may be permanent.
Ear infections, such as swimmer's ear, are more common in children, but they can affect adults as well. Bacteria and viruses can invade the middle ear, causing a buildup of fluid. This fluid becomes a breeding ground for infection. The swelling and excess fluid can block sound waves from passing through to the inner ear, resulting in temporary hearing loss. Many people report that the ear sounds muffled in these cases. Normal hearing is usually restored after the infection clears up.
Note: It’s important to see a physician for treatment of an ear infection; untreated infections could result in more ear damage and more permanent hearing loss.
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) is hearing loss that happens suddenly or over the course of a few days. “Sensorineural” refers to damage to the inner ear or the nerves that transfer electrical signals from the inner ear to the brain.
A medical professional will need to examine you to determine what that problem might be; however, it is often difficult to diagnose precisely. In SSHL, hearing loss usually happens in just one ear — known as unilateral hearing loss. Some people don’t notice the loss until they do something that draws attention to differences in hearing between the two ears, like talking on the phone or listening through headphones/earbuds. Others notice a loud “pop” sound, followed by the inability to hear from one ear. In either case, it should be treated as a medical emergency; the sooner you see a physician, the better the odds for recovery.
If you have tinnitus, you might occasionally experience a specific type of sudden hearing loss. It’s often described as a sudden muffling of hearing that is replaced with a loud ringing sound that drowns out other sounds. However, the loud ringing eventually fades away, generally in seconds or minutes, and hearing returns to normal. If you’ve experienced this sensation, talk to a hearing care professional or a physician about tinnitus. Tinnitus is not a standalone condition, but is often a symptom of other problems, including damage to the inner ear.
While you may be tempted to wait it out, it’s important to see your physician right away if you’re experiencing sudden hearing loss. Early treatment can often mean a better chance at a faster and fuller recovery. Your physician will review your medical history and perform a physical exam. He or she may refer you to an ENT—a doctor who specializes in treating the ears, nose and throat.
Your medical care team may perform certain tests to assess your hearing at different sound volumes, as well as check for any damage to your middle ear and eardrum. They may also order blood tests or an MRI to get detailed images of the ear and brain to check for any cysts, tumors or other abnormalities.
The most common form of treatment for sudden hearing loss is typically steroids like prednisone, even in cases where the exact cause is unknown (idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss or ISSHL). Steroids, which are intended to reduce inflammation in the inner ear, are prescribed by a physician and are given either as oral medication or by injection behind the ear drum. They are most effective when given within 48 hours of the sudden hearing loss event2.
If you’ve been prescribed steroids, you might wonder “How quickly does prednisone work for sudden hearing loss?” The answer will vary depending on your unique condition and how quickly you were seen. However, it’s common for it to take two to six months to return to “normal” hearing in cases where improvement is possible.
Research into the effectiveness of steroids as a treatment for ISSHL is ongoing for a variety of reasons, including inconsistencies in existing study results3 and indications that high doses are no more effective than standard doses.4
Can acupuncture help sudden hearing loss? It’s possible. Acupuncture is sometimes used as a supplementary therapy for SSHL along with traditional Western treatment and medication.
While studies do show some potential positive effects, the evidence is not conclusive. Reviews6 of previous studies7 have found problems with the methods used and potential for biases.
Here are some simple tips to help reduce your risk of temporary or sudden hearing loss:
Protect your hearing
Fuel your immunity
Hearing & medication
Viruses that can potentially cause sudden hearing loss include herpes simplex (HSV), HIV, hepatitis, measles, rubella, mumps, varicella and West Nile virus, among others.
It’s thought that viruses can cause problems like restricted blood flow and cellular damage that affect the ability to hear, but the exact triggers, and how they differ among viruses is not well understood and requires more research.8
The shock and stress of sudden hearing loss can leave you wondering “How long does temporary hearing loss last?” Unfortunately, there is no one answer to that question.
Depending on factors such as your overall health, your age, how long it took to start treatment and the severity of the loss, it can last for anywhere from days to months.
Air travel and its inevitable changes in pressure can make people feel nervous about flying with sudden hearing loss. One study found that there were no significant effects to hearing after people with ISSHL traveled by plane9.
However, it was a single study with a small number of participants, so more research is needed. Talk to your physician about your unique case if you have concerns about flying.
1 Singh A, Kumar Irugu DV. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss - A contemporary review of management issues. J Otol. 2020 Jun;15(2):67-73. doi: 10.1016/j.joto.2019.07.001. Epub 2019 Jul 30. PMID: 32440269; PMCID: PMC7231990. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7231990.
2 Sudden sensorineural hearing loss and bedside phone testing: a guide for primary care. Shilpa Ojha, Arthur Henderson, Warren Bennett, Matthew Clark. British Journal of General Practice 2020; 70 (692): 144-145. DOI: 10.3399/bjgp20X708761. https://bjgp.org/content/70/692/144.
3 Wei BP, Stathopoulos D, O'Leary S. Steroids for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Jul 2;2013(7):CD003998. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003998.pub3. PMID: 23818120; PMCID: PMC7390468. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7390468/.
4 lontke SK, Girndt M, Meisner C, Fischer I, Böselt I, Löhler J, Ludwig-Kraus B, Richter M, Steighardt J, Reuter B, Böttcher C, Langer J, Pethe W, Seiwerth I, Jovanovic N, Großmann W, Kienle-Gogolok A, Boehm A, Neudert M, Diensthuber M, Müller A, Dazert S, Guntinas-Lichius O, Hornung J, Vielsmeier V, Stadler J, Rahne T; HODOKORT Trial Investigators. High-Dose Glucocorticoids for the Treatment of Sudden Hearing Loss. NEJM Evid. 2024 Jan;3(1):EVIDoa2300172. doi: 10.1056/EVIDoa2300172. Epub 2023 Dec 26. PMID: 38320514. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38320514/.
5 Joshua TG, Ayub A, Wijesinghe P, Nunez DA. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Patients With Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2022;148(1):5–11. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2021.2685 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/fullarticle/2785483.
6 Zhang XC, Xu XP, Xu WT, Hou WZ, Cheng YY, Li CX, Ni GX. Acupuncture therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PLoS One. 2015 Apr 28;10(4):e0125240. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125240. Erratum in: PLoS One. 2015 Jun 15;10(6):e0131031. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131031. PMID: 25919000; PMCID: PMC4412536. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4412536/.
7 The efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Integrative Medicine Research, Volume 13, Issue 4, 2024,101087, ISSN 2213-4220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imr.2024.101087. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213422024000672.
8 Chen X, Fu YY, Zhang TY. Role of viral infection in sudden hearing loss. J Int Med Res. 2019 Jul;47(7):2865-2872. doi: 10.1177/0300060519847860. Epub 2019 May 27. PMID: 31130031; PMCID: PMC6683896. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6683896.
9 Ungar OJ, Shilo S, Halevy N, Cavel O, Handzel O, Oron Y. Should air travel be avoided shortly after an idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss? Acta Otolaryngol. 2020 Aug;140(8):659-663. doi: 10.1080/00016489.2020.1754461. Epub 2020 Apr 22. PMID: 32319331. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32319331.
.png/jcr:content/renditions/cq5dam.web.700.700.jpeg)
