No doubt you’ve heard of a stroke, a medical emergency that occurs when your brain is suddenly blocked off from its blood supply, causing immediate, significant damage to the organ. An ear stroke, also called sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL), is similar in that it occurs when the inner ear is suddenly affected, usually by a change in blood supply, and it’s characterized by hearing loss that develops rapidly, usually within 72 hours.
What Causes Ear Stroke?
The inner ear relies on healthy blood flow to function. The organ of the inner ear, called the cochlea, is home to thousands of sensory cells that collect sound information and transmit it to the brain. When these sensory cells are cut off from their blood supply, they are essentially taken offline, which can cause lasting damage and hearing loss.
Since SSHL is most often connected to blood flow, there are many potential causes. Some of these include:
- Viral infection
- Physical injury or trauma to the ear, head or neck
- Ototoxic medications
- Blood circulation problems
- Autoimmune disorders (when the immune system attacks healthy body tissue rather than foreign invaders)
- Other conditions that affect blood flow to the inner ear
However, in almost 90% of cases, the exact cause of sudden hearing loss is unknown.
What Are the Symptoms of an Ear Stroke?
As mentioned above, the predominant symptom of SSHL is rapid hearing loss. This can occur in one ear or both, and it may also be accompanied by tinnitus (ringing in the ear), dizziness or vertigo, a feeling of pressure or fullness in the ear or ear popping.
Many people notice sudden hearing loss first thing in the morning or when they first try to use the affected ear, such as holding a phone to it.
How Is Hearing Loss from an Ear Stroke Treated?
Treatment of SSHL will depend on the cause (if known) of hearing loss, whether it’s temporary or permanent and how soon you seek treatment after noticing symptoms.
If a healthcare professional is able to determine the cause of SSHL, that will inform treatment. For example, SSHL caused by an infection may be treated with antibiotics. If the cause is unknown, treatment commonly starts with corticosteroids injected into the middle ear to reduce inflammation, decrease swelling and help the body fight illness. The broad applicational usefulness of corticosteroids is greatly beneficial in cases where the cause is unknown.
SSHL can be either temporary or permanent, but generally speaking, the best outcomes are seen when treatment begins within two weeks of symptoms appearing. It is imperative that you seek medical attention as soon as possible if you notice a sudden and dramatic loss of hearing to improve your odds against permanent hearing loss.
If hearing loss is permanent or otherwise not responding to other treatments, then hearing aids are the next step. While they won’t restore your hearing to pre-ear stroke health, they will fill in the gaps and amplify the sounds that you now struggle to hear. Contact Southwest Idaho Ear, Nose and Throat to learn more about how hearing aids can help with SSHL.