If you are experiencing sudden hearing loss right now
If you are experiencing sudden hearing loss right now, contact a physician, ENT specialist, or urgent care provider immediately. Do not wait for a routine appointment.
Sudden Hearing Loss: Why It Requires Prompt Medical Attention
Key takeaways
- Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is defined as a rapid loss of 30 dB or more across three consecutive frequencies, occurring within 72 hours.
- SSNHL is considered a medical emergency by many audiologists and ENT physicians — prompt evaluation and treatment may improve outcomes.
- In most cases, no definitive cause is found; viral infection and vascular events are among the suspected causes.
- Corticosteroids are the primary treatment and are most effective when started quickly.
- Do not use an online hearing screening as the primary response to sudden hearing loss — seek in-person medical evaluation.
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) — sometimes called sudden deafness — is a rapid, unexplained loss of hearing that occurs all at once or over a period of up to 72 hours. It is considered a medical emergency by many audiologists and ENT physicians because prompt treatment may improve the chances of recovery.
According to the NIDCD, approximately 66,000 new cases of SSNHL occur in the United States each year, though the actual number may be higher because many cases go unreported or are misattributed to other causes.1
What is sudden sensorineural hearing loss?
SSNHL is clinically defined as a loss of 30 decibels or more across at least three consecutive frequencies on an audiogram, occurring within 72 hours. It most commonly affects one ear. Some people notice it when they wake up in the morning; others notice it suddenly during the day, sometimes accompanied by a "pop" sensation.
SSNHL is distinct from conductive hearing loss (which can also develop suddenly, for example from earwax blockage or ear infection) and from the gradual hearing loss of aging or noise exposure.
Symptoms
- •Sudden reduction or loss of hearing in one ear (rarely both)
- •A sensation of fullness or pressure in the ear
- •Tinnitus (ringing, buzzing, or roaring in the affected ear)
- •Dizziness or balance problems (in some cases)
- •A "pop" sound at the onset of hearing loss (reported by some patients)
Causes
In approximately 85–90% of cases, no definitive cause is identified — these are called idiopathic SSNHL.2 When a cause is found, it may include:
- •Viral infections — including herpes viruses, mumps, and others
- •Vascular events — reduced blood flow to the inner ear
- •Autoimmune conditions
- •Acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma)
- •Meniere's disease
- •Ototoxic medications
- •Head trauma
- •Perilymph fistula (a tear in the membranes of the inner ear)
Why prompt evaluation matters
The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) clinical practice guidelines recommend that SSNHL be treated as a medical emergency.3 The primary reason is that corticosteroids — the main treatment — appear to be most effective when started quickly, ideally within the first two weeks of onset. Waiting for a routine appointment may reduce the window for effective treatment.
Prompt evaluation also allows the clinician to rule out serious underlying causes — such as acoustic neuroma — that require their own management.
Treatment
The primary treatment for idiopathic SSNHL is corticosteroids, typically oral prednisone or intratympanic (injected through the eardrum) dexamethasone. Intratympanic steroids may be used as initial treatment or as salvage therapy when oral steroids have not been effective.
The AAO-HNS guidelines recommend against routine use of antivirals, thrombolytics, vasodilators, or other agents as primary treatment, as evidence for their benefit is limited.3
Recovery varies widely. Some people recover fully, some partially, and some do not recover hearing. Factors associated with better outcomes include earlier treatment, less severe initial loss, and absence of vestibular symptoms.
What to do if you think you have SSNHL
- 1Contact your doctor, an ENT specialist, or an urgent care provider as soon as possible — do not wait for a routine appointment.
- 2Do not use an online hearing screening as your primary response. Online screenings are not designed to evaluate sudden hearing loss and are not a substitute for in-person medical evaluation.
- 3If you cannot reach a doctor, go to an emergency room or urgent care center.
- 4Bring a list of your current medications — some medications are associated with hearing loss.
Frequently asked questions
Can sudden hearing loss come back on its own?
Some cases of SSNHL do recover spontaneously, but recovery rates are higher with treatment. Because it is not possible to predict who will recover without treatment, prompt medical evaluation is recommended for all cases.
Is sudden hearing loss the same as sudden deafness?
"Sudden deafness" is a colloquial term for SSNHL. Clinically, SSNHL refers to a rapid loss of 30 dB or more across three frequencies within 72 hours. The severity can range from mild to profound.
Can I use a hearing aid after sudden hearing loss?
If hearing does not fully recover, hearing aids may be helpful for residual hearing loss. Your audiologist will evaluate your hearing after the acute phase and discuss appropriate options.
Sources
- 1. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). Sudden Deafness. nidcd.nih.gov. Accessed September 2026.
- 2. Stachler RJ, et al. Clinical Practice Guideline: Sudden Hearing Loss. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 2012;146(3 Suppl):S1–35.
- 3. Chandrasekhar SS, et al. Clinical Practice Guideline: Sudden Hearing Loss (Update). Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 2019;161(1_suppl):S1–S45.