Sudden Hearing Loss – Why Urgent ENT Assessment Matters
Sudden loss of hearing in one ear can be frightening and it should always be treated as a medical emergency.
While many people assume a blocked ear, wax, or infection is the cause, a significant number of cases are due to Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL), a condition that needs urgent treatment for the best chance of recovery.
At Hampshire ENT Clinics, through Medicana Winchester, we provide fast access to consultant assessment and immediate treatment for patients across Winchester, Southampton, Portsmouth, and Salisbury.
🔊 What Is Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL)?
SSNHL is a rapid loss of hearing that occurs over minutes, hours, or up to 72 hours.
It usually affects one ear and may be accompanied by:
Ear fullness
Tinnitus (ringing)
Distorted sound
Dizziness or imbalance
A sensation like “the ear has switched off”
It can be caused by inner-ear or auditory nerve dysfunction not just earwax or fluid.
Early diagnosis is critical because treatment works best within the first 48–72 hours.
🚨 When Is It an Emergency?
Seek urgent ENT assessment if you experience:
Sudden hearing loss in one ear
Distorted or muffled hearing that does not improve after yawning/swallowing
New tinnitus with hearing drop
Sudden hearing change after a cold or virus
Sudden hearing change on waking
If SSNHL is suspected, treatment must begin immediately, ideally the same day.
🩺 How We Diagnose Sudden Hearing Loss
At Hampshire ENT we provide rapid assessment, which may include:
Consultant examination
Ear microscope examination (to rule out wax obstruction)
Urgent audiogram (hearing test)
Tympanometry (middle-ear pressure assessment)
MRI scan if needed to exclude rare neurological causes
If the hearing test confirms sensorineural loss, treatment begins the same day.
💊 Treatment Options – The Sooner, the Better
1. Oral Steroids (First-Line Treatment)
High-dose oral steroids started within the first 48 hours offer the best chance of recovery.
Usually taken for 7–14 days
Reduce inflammation in the inner ear
Easy, effective, and well tolerated for most patients
2. Intratympanic Steroid Injections
Steroids are injected directly into the middle ear, where they diffuse into the inner ear.
These are used when:
Oral steroids are not suitable (e.g., diabetes, gastric issues)
Oral steroids have not fully restored hearing
Additional treatment is needed to maximise recovery
This treatment is available at Hampshire ENT Clinics.
3. Recovery Monitoring
Repeat audiograms track improvement over time.
Some patients recover fully; others improve partially, early treatment makes the biggest difference.
🧠 What Isn’t SSNHL?
Not all sudden hearing changes are sensorineural. It may also be caused by:
Earwax
Middle-ear fluid (glue ear)
Eardrum problems
Ear infections
These are benign and treatable — but the only way to know is through an urgent ENT assessment.
🌟 Rapid Expert Care Across Hampshire
You don’t need to travel far for urgent hearing loss treatment.
We provide same-day or next-day appointments at:
Hampshire ENT Clinics (Portsmouth, Fareham & surrounding areas)
👉 If you experience sudden hearing loss, contact Hampshire ENT Clinics at Medicana Winchester immediately for urgent assessment and treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Sudden Hearing Loss in One Ear (SSNHL)
What is sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL)?
SSNHL is a rapid loss of inner-ear hearing, usually affecting one ear, that develops over minutes, hours, or up to 72 hours. It is caused by dysfunction of the inner ear or auditory nerve, not by wax or middle-ear fluid.
Why is sudden hearing loss considered an emergency?
Because early treatment dramatically improves the chance of recovery. Steroid treatment is most effective when started within 48–72 hours of symptom onset. Delayed treatment significantly reduces the likelihood of hearing improvement.
How does SSNHL feel?
Patients often describe:
A sudden drop or muffling of hearing
Ear fullness or pressure
Ringing (tinnitus)
Distorted sound
Dizziness or imbalance
A sensation that the ear has “switched off”
Is sudden hearing loss always permanent?
No. Many patients recover partially or fully, especially when treatment is started promptly. Early assessment is the most important factor influencing outcome.
How is SSNHL different from a blocked ear?
A blocked ear from wax or fluid usually improves with swallowing, yawning, or treatment and does not affect the inner ear. SSNHL does not improve with these manoeuvres and is confirmed by a hearing test showing sensorineural loss.
What causes sudden sensorineural hearing loss?
In many cases, no single cause is identified. Possible mechanisms include:
Viral inner-ear inflammation
Vascular disturbance to the inner ear
Immune-mediated processes
Auditory nerve dysfunction
Importantly, it is not caused by infection in the ear canal.
What tests are needed?
Urgent assessment may include:
ENT examination with microscopy
Urgent audiogram (essential)
Tympanometry to assess the middle ear
MRI scan in selected cases to exclude rare neurological causes
Treatment should not be delayed while awaiting scans.
What is the first-line treatment?
High-dose oral steroids started as soon as possible are the standard first-line treatment. They reduce inflammation within the inner ear and offer the best chance of recovery when given early.
What if I can’t take oral steroids?
If oral steroids are not suitable, or if recovery is incomplete, intratympanic steroid injections (steroids delivered directly to the ear) are an effective alternative or additional treatment.
Do intratympanic injections hurt?
They are generally well tolerated. The procedure is performed in clinic under local anaesthetic and takes only a few minutes.
How long does recovery take?
Improvement may begin within days or weeks. Hearing can continue to recover over several months. Follow-up hearing tests monitor progress.
What happens if hearing does not recover fully?
If residual hearing loss remains, ENT specialists can advise on:
Hearing aids
Tinnitus management
Ongoing monitoring
Early treatment still improves long-term outcomes, even if recovery is incomplete.
What conditions can mimic SSNHL?
Sudden hearing change may also be caused by:
Earwax
Middle-ear fluid (glue ear)
Eardrum problems
Ear infections
These are generally benign, but cannot be reliably distinguished without urgent ENT assessment and audiometry.
Where can I be assessed urgently?
Rapid, consultant-led assessment and treatment are available at Hampshire ENT Clinics via Medicana Winchester, providing fast access for patients from Winchester, Southampton, Portsmouth, Salisbury, and across Hampshire.