National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss


Other Names:
Acute sensorineural hearing loss by acute acoustic trauma or sudden deafness or surgery induced acoustic trauma; Sudden deafness
Sudden sensorineural deafness is a condition that is characterized by rapid, unexplained hearing loss. More specifically, affected people experience a reduction in hearing of greater than 30 decibels, which may occur all at once or over several days. In most cases, only one ear is affected. People with sudden sensorineural deafness often become dizzy, have ringing in their ears (tinnitus), or both (40% of the cases). The condition has a variety of causes, including infection, inflammation, tumors, trauma, exposure to toxins and conditions that affect the inner ear such as Ménière's disease.[1][2] About half of people with sudden sensorineural deafness will recover some or all of their hearing spontaneously and about 85% of those who receive treatment will recover some of their hearing.[1][3]
Last updated: 2/17/2016

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In-Depth Information

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  1. Sudden Deafness. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. August, 2015; http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/pages/sudden.aspx.
  2. Hain T. Sudden Hearing Loss. American Hearing Research Foundation. 2012; http://american-hearing.org/disorders/sudden-hearing-loss/.
  3. Mathur N N. Sudden Hearing Loss. Medscape Reference. February 5, 2015; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/856313-overview.