Sudden Sensorial Hearing Loss (SSHL) is a severe symptom of other health issues, and is not considered a medical condition of its own. For people who suddenly find themselves deaf, hard of hearing, or off-balance, however, SSHL feels very much like a unique condition, and the information available online is frustratingly vague.
What happened? Why? Will it go away? How can I possible adapt? The section What is SSHL? links to a number of websites that explain the symptoms, causes, and treatments for SSHL. The intention of this blog, however, is to answer the last question – how do people who experience sudden deafness adapt? SSHL is often scary and isolating at first, and over time its impacts may change as we encounter new circumstances. If you have experienced SSHL, please join this online community by sharing your stories and insights, and asking questions. If you have not experienced SSHL but would like to engage, please feel free to leave a comment.
Life with Sudden Sensorial Hearing Loss (SSHL) 
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February 2, 2012 at 10:18 pm
Jaynie
I t all started about 5 years ago when I was 45 years old I had the steroid tablet treatment when both my ears first started to get problems .
I had lots of inner head noise ( generator like ) and contsantly repeating “pardon?, what?, eh?” it was in both ears but one was better than the other.
Had treatmant, tests it was all sorted. No hearing aid needed, I was impressed! although this all did take a few months and was quite challenging.
After a couple of years the problem started to return, back for hearing tests and fitted with 2 hearing aids; the world sounded so noisey! it was beyond my own head noise for a change loved it but unfortunately short lived.
A year on and now things have gone down hill of which I am at the bottom of.
Hearing aids dont work any more and tests show that my hearing has deteriated badly.
I have been told that my right one is too far gone for anything “as far as I can see” but my left has a “window of opportunity” What I have I got to lose its all going anyway?
Now I am on Steroids oraly and have had Steroid liquid injected directly into my inner ear just 5 days ago, What a noise that made sounds like drowning in depth under deep sea, the pressure was emense and the ear ache afterwards wow.
At the moment I can not hear much outside my own head, It is more sever now than ever before, I realy appreciate how good/ bad my hearing was before this last procedure. Im keeping my fingures crossed that I haven’t just excellerated the process by going for it?.
How do I adapt and keep working? Communication is the vital skill I need in my work. I was chairing a meeting and running a training session today and that was no joke, I’m shattered.
I Just hope I can continue doing the job I love and keep my family free from some cloth eared old women who cant join in.
More tests and a scan tomorrow.
Looking at lip reading courses just in case? always fancied being a secret agent anyway! just in case I need to change my vocation
August 29, 2012 at 3:26 am
suddendeafness
Hi Jaynie,
Thanks for your post a while back. I had a similar “under water” experience when I had steroids injected into my ear. And the same feeling of pressure and pain, and a headache. Any updates about your treatment with oral and injected steroids? Are you able to continue working?
Best, Dana
January 15, 2014 at 8:50 pm
Joe Lasagna
I was diagnosed with SSHL two weeks ago. I started the steroid injections on the day that I was diagnosed knowing that the treatment had to start almost immediately to maximize the chances of them being effective. I actually had the last injection today. I’m scheduled for an MRI on Friday.
There has been no improvement since the start of the treatment, and the hearing in my affected ear actually became worse between the first and second treatment. It has since leveled off, and is about 80 d in the affected ear.
Although it has been only two weeks since onset, I’m starting to become aware of situations that I’m uncomfortable in. First and foremost, anytime there is backround noise of any kind I have a difficult time understanding what is being said. I don’t like speaking on the telephone in my car using the speaker system. Listening to the radio is also troublesome. I don’t like loud noises. If I’m focused on trying to hear someone speaking to me, the TV or anything else, and I’m interrupted by something else, it’s very frustrating.
My physician has been very supportive and hopeful, but he’s already talking about the “rehabilitation phase” .
I’m sorry to ramble on, but I’m trying to get my arms around this and trying to connect with some others for advice and support.
Thanks!
January 30, 2017 at 3:15 am
Khbaha
I don’t have SSHL; I have been deaf on my left side since birth due to microtia with atresia. I just got my BAHA implant in June of 2016. I am still experiencing tenderness around my implant site along with seepage around the base of the post. When I’ve gone back to the doctor who did the implant, he’s told me it’s not infected and to put bacitracin on it but otherwise not been concerned with the healing. Like you I’ve found I’ve rarely used my device, because at work there’s generally so much background noise that it doesn’t help me.
I wanted to ask around when, if at all, your tenderness and seeping went away, because otherwise I’m strongly considering contacting them to discuss removing the abutment. I’m tired of wincing whenever I touch my head close to the site and having headaches.
Thanks,
Katie
January 30, 2017 at 9:13 am
suddendeafness
Hi Katie – It’s been a while since I had my surgery, so I am fuzzy on the exact timeline of when the site fully healed. Like you, though, it took a while – a year maybe? It still it aches and oozes whenever I get sick, or when I’m low on sleep. Do you know what is involved with removing the abutment? Seems like it could be involved if the abutment is fused to the skull bone?
Best, Dana
September 11, 2018 at 11:57 am
Khbaha
From what the doctor told me, the small piece that’s actually in the skull remains. The larger post that the hearing aid plugs into is just unscrewed under local anesthesia. Then the skin can heal. I’m now at over two years since my surgery and… nothing’s changed. I have to avoid laying on my left side. When I do it’s with a Kleenex wrapped around the post to catch any pus or blood that seeps out, and I’m still constantly tender. I went to ask the doctor and he asked that I try to use the hearing aid more but I don’t find that it helps me. I’m going to go back and ask him to remove my post and let it heal up.
April 5, 2017 at 6:37 pm
Reka
Hi!
Nice of you to talk about sshl.
I would like to ask you about the vertigo.
I had sshl last October. I had 90 db hearing loss, vertigo, tinnitus.
After much medicine and 1 month recovery some of my hearing came back (mostly deep voices), I learnt to live with tinnitus and I had no more vertigo.
But my vertigo with dizzyness came back in February. My hearing is unaffected, my tests are all ok, I cant have Meniere.
All of my doctors are surprised. They all said that the vertigo and balance are healed in 3-6 weeks and after this time the brain is 100% adapted to the injured inner ear.
I did some research and you are the first one I find with lasting balance problems. Do you know why your balance and vertigo didnt heal? Maybe it could help me to understand.
Thank you.
April 6, 2017 at 9:52 am
suddendeafness
Hi Reka,
It’s a good question – I’m not sure the medical reason why I still have trouble with my vertigo.
When I had my first bad “bout” of vertigo after SSHL, my audiologist held her hands up by her ears and said “this is how the brain normally understands balance”. Then she dropped one hand to her shoulder and said “this is your new balance”. I assume she meant something like: the swelling in my inner ear which caused the SSHL, also incapacitated receptors for the brain to understand balance on one side. I’ve probably butchered some complex medical process with this lay-persons interpretation 🙂 Still holding one hand at her shoulder, my audiologist continued, “Your job, now, is to train your brain every day that this is your new normal.”
I still have bouts of really bad vertigo after just a few days of inactivity – when I’m sick in bed, or traveling long distance on flights. I also feel mild balance problems when I get really busy at work and I spend long days in front of my computer; this usually corresponds with not running regularly too.
I really appreciated the attitude of that audiologist. Her approach was practical, and involved no pity whatsoever. She simply said, “Your prescription is to stay active.” I liked being treated as a capable person, and given a really practical solution. If you’ve read some of my posts, you’ll know that this simple “prescription” contributed to my taking up running. Running has had SO many other wonderful benefits for me, personally, outside of improving my balance – I feel more mentally and emotionally balanced as well. I find the analogy of “introducing balance to my life” a motivator to run when I’m tired or the weather is crappy which gets me out at least once a week, and ideally a few times a week. Riding my bike during my short commute every day also helps A LOT. Getting up from my computer to get tea and water, and the subsequent trips to the toilet also help :). Those are some of my little routines.
It might be too early for you to say, but I’m curious if you notice any patterns to your vertigo?
Best, Dana
October 27, 2018 at 5:48 pm
myhearinglossstory
Hello Dana. I really just wanted to say hello and to introduce myself. I’m Carly, I am 36 and I am from England, now living in Madrid. I experienced sudden sensorineural hearing loss 2 years ago. I have a profound loss in my left ear, along with the feeeling of pressure, sensitivity to sounds, tinnitus and dizziness. The specialists think I have Ménière’s disease/cochlear hydrops. When I first lost my hearing, I had vertigo for about two weeks. Since then, I often have dizziness, especially when I’m walking outside, when I’m around lots of people, after I’ve eaten something with a lot of salt in, when I’m tired, or when the weather is about to be stormy. Just under a month ago, I had a drop attack of vertigo. After getting on with my life as ‘normally’ as possible during the last two years, this has shocked me back into considering the reality of my situation. I have been resting as much as possible, just as everyone has advised me to. However, after a few weeks of sleeping lots, pottering around the house, and little walks outside, I have realized that I am now much more dizzy than I used to be before the drop attack. I thought that maybe this was due to me thinking more about how I’m feeling at the moment, or the after-effects of the vertigo attack.. Whatever the reason, I am more dizzy. After reading your blog (thank you by the way, it’s so great to read about your story which has similarities to mine) I am now thinking that my dizziness and lack of balance could be due to all the resting! Normally I have to catch two metro trains to get to work, with escalators, crowds of people etc (great to read your bus experiences too – very much like my train journey experience!). I work in a school full of infants, and walk up and down stairs all day. Basically, my balance is constantly being challenged, and I am of course exhausted by the end of the day. Since all the resting, my balance hasn’t been challenged much at all, and I’m wondering if this is the reason for my new increased dizziness. I have next week off work again, and I am going to try and exercise more each day, and see how my body responds. I have definitely enough of resting!! Thank you again Dana for your blog. I hope you are doing well.
Take care
Carly.
October 28, 2018 at 11:49 am
suddendeafness
Hi Carly – Thanks so much for taking the time to post here, and for hosting your own blog about life with sudden deafness. Simply daily experiences (like walking up stairs or interacting with multiple – sometimes little – people trying to get your attention) can be a challenge, and it’s difficult to communicate to others how challenging these things are. I am enjoying reading myhearinglossstory.wordpress.com – hopefully other readers will find your blog helpful too!
Best, Dana
October 28, 2018 at 6:29 pm
myhearinglossstory
Hi Dana. It’s nice to find someone else who knows what this feels like, isn’t it! I’m thinking of writing a blog post about my dizziness/vertigo, and would like to mention what you wrote about the specialist telling you to stay active. Would you mind if I included this in my blog post, with a link to your blog? If you’d rather contact me privately about this, you can write to me on my contact page (sorry, I couldn’t see one on your website). Anyway, lovely to find you, and thanks for reading my blog too 🙂 I hope you are well. Carly
October 29, 2018 at 11:02 am
suddendeafness
Of course!
October 29, 2018 at 11:07 am
myhearinglossstory
Great, thank you so much!
November 6, 2018 at 3:43 pm
myhearinglossstory
Hello again Dana. Here’s the post I wrote about my dizziness, and how I plan to stay active:
https://myhearinglossstory.wordpress.com/2018/11/06/dizzy-dollies/
i quoted your blog, and wrote a bit about your story. Hope you think it’s OK!
Best wishes
Carly
January 12, 2019 at 2:40 pm
Kate Orde-Powlett
Thank you Dana for what you have written, also Carly who’s blog I have also followed. My SSHL started 9 months ago, I was diagnosed with viral labyrinthitis, I don’t think anyone believed me when I said I was completely deaf in my left ear……… fast forward over many months of struggling on my own with a few pointless medical appointments, I was taking a bit longer than normal to get over the virus! I reached a point of collapse at six months and finally frightened the doctor enough to take action, mri and ct ruled out stroke, MS and tumours, but my balance problems could not be explained. I have recently seen a neurologist who was confused by my very specific symptoms, he directed me to website neurosymptoms.org, not by way of suggesting a diagnosis at that stage, more to make me aware of this group of conditions being responsible for my troubling, and occasionally severe symptoms. I read some stuff that resonated strongly with me, PPPD, or functional dizziness in particular. I hope I will see the neurologist again soon so I can discuss all this with him!
My story is so very similar to what you have both written, the shock and illness at the beginning, dealing with getting out and about whilst suffering mind blowing tinnitus/vertigo, and in particular the unresolved problems with balance. It helps to know I am not alone Kate
January 20, 2019 at 9:30 pm
Tony
Im 42 yo male. I lost hearing in my right ear the first of the year. I was at the ENT withun 2 days and on Prednisone. It didn’t make a difference, the MD actually said it was worse. I got the needle in the ear too, so far nothing. I’m wondering if we all have something else in common. Last I checked only 8000 people each year experience this. I exercise, eat fairly healthy (fruit, veggies, under 2300 Cal a day), but I do like to drink. At my worst maybe a 6 pack 6 days a week, otherwise 2 days a week. I don’t and haven’t taken any medications and would other consider myself healthy. Blood work is always good, cholesterol good.
January 26, 2019 at 1:46 am
Nikki Nowell
I experienced SSHL on January 14th 2019.
I was at work and sneezed a few times. My right ear instantly became blocked. It felt very strange. The phone started to ring and it caused my right ear to vibrate. My colleagues all said it would just be a wax build up and nothing to worry about. I of course googled and found many websites saying it could
be something serious so get to a doctor.
I went that afternoon and my GP said my right ear was inflamed and prescribed me an antibiotic ear ointment. He said come back by Friday if hearing hadn’t returned.
So I went on Friday. My GP sent me for a hearing test. I was told I had severe hearing loss in my right ear. Luckily for me a Eye, Ear and Throat specialist works out of the offices where I had the hearing test. He immediately prescribed 50mg Prednisone for 12 days, tapering the dosage down. He ordered an MRI to dismiss a brain tumour or anything else serious.
It is day 8 and I have had no recovery.Tinnitus constantly.
I am hopeful obviously that my hearing will return as it was diagnosed within the 2 weeks.
I will keep you posted.
I have joined a club that I wasn’t even aware of, but here I am.
Remaining positive
Nikki
March 5, 2019 at 3:16 am
Kathy
Hi and aloha everyone
I am a very active healthy surfer from San Diego
I was out durfingbone day came in with a complete ear plugged. I immediately went to world renowned Scripps Green urgent care. I was told it was a blocked eustachiun tube they syringed it out sent me home. Next day woke up fell on ground crawled to bathroom sick as a dog called my husband said I thought I was dying. My eyes would not focus couldn’t quit throwing up. Off to emergency room Scripps. Doctors said ear infection put me on antibiotics sea sick pills said I would be fine. Day three my Scripps primary care physician. She thought it was nerve damage referred me to an ent.
It was turned in as routine so I went 29 days before I got in to see an Ent. Finally I went to an audiologist outside of my insurance that got me in next day to see ent at Scripps. Scripps dropped the ball and because of them I have severe hearing loss in left ear. Moving on took about 4 weeks to drive. In the mean time I tried to walk fell in bushes fell off curb while walking beach stumbled around like a drunk for 3 months. Then I was adjusting to everything and thought I can do this. I am now st month 6. Visual disturbances balance issues. I had injections in my ear along with prednisone for two weeks no hearing returned. I returned to doctor who did my ear holes were all healed up. Ladt week back to ent home in my eardrum puss crusting. Now I am on drops ciprodex. I have s loud humming in my head visual disturbances and balance issues. Back at square one. I went from a healthy athlete to a wreck over night no support. There is medical support fir diabetes, weight depression etc NOTHING fir hearing loss I am shocked. Basically they tell you oh you are deaf in one ear good luck and out the foot you go. I am feeling bad about my new bout of all the symptoms all over again. Had MRI everything negative. Any comments help would be appreciated. This humming in my head is driving me nuts.
6 months with SSHL and sad
Aloha 🌺🌺🌺
Surfer Kathy I apologize for typos
March 5, 2019 at 10:22 am
suddendeafness
Hi Kathy,
The last few months sound nightmarish – I’m really sorry to hear all of this. I had my medical care in the US health system as well, and can relate to the feeling of no support. That is exactly why I started this blog – to let folks know that it is possible to start living an active, mostly normal life again with sudden single-sided deafness, dizziness, and tinnitus.
As you will read on my posts here, I also found the first year super challenging. My main difficulties were hearing and balance.
For hearing. I discovered that cupping my good ear got me pretty far in terms of hearing, and it sent social signals for others to speak up and face me. I realize now (+10 years later) that I’ve come to rely on lip-reading. I still struggle when there is lots of background noise (eg busy restaurant) or the conversation moves quickly between a bunch of people. Little tricks help. I always claim the left corner seat at a table (often asking someone to switch seats with me because “I have a hearing problem”). I try to get together with just one or two people at a time, and I usually request that we with next to each other at a restaurant (rather than across from each other).
For balance. This required patience with myself. You might find this post about staying active helpful (https://suddendeafness.wordpress.com/2009/12/10/rx-be-active/). Also, these two about vertigo and a vertigo-induced bike accident (https://suddendeafness.wordpress.com/2014/12/22/vertigo/, https://suddendeafness.wordpress.com/2015/01/04/eating-pavement/). Just a little bit of movement each day might help to retrain your brain to deal with the dizziness.
For the ringing in your head. I had tinnitus a bit at first, but honestly, I don’t suffer with this as much as many others. What have you tried to manage this?
FYI – You might also enjoy reading Carly’s blog about regaining life with hearing loss, dizziness, and tinnitus: https://myhearinglossstory.wordpress.com/.
Best, Dana
March 5, 2019 at 1:53 pm
myhearinglossstory
Hi Dana,
I hope you are well?
Thank you for recommending my blog, and I’ve just noticed you shared my documentary – thank you!
Best of wishes
Carly
March 5, 2019 at 9:39 pm
Kaghy
Thank you
Hopefully recovery is soon ugh 💕🌺🌺🌺
I would just like to surf again lol I’ll keep you posted
Aloha🌺
March 5, 2019 at 1:51 pm
myhearinglossstory
Hello Kathy,
I thought I’d comment, as Dana recommended you visit my blog.
I’m also sorry to read your story. Sudden Hearing Loss is scary and it can also be very frustrating trying to deal with the hearing loss and associated issues. The problem is that there is little research available for specialists to refer to regarding sudden hearing loss and inner ear issues. It seems that once the initial tests have been done, and the steroid treatments following SSHL have been administered, then there isn’t a lot more that is offered to help people affected by SSHL move forward. Although I was happy with the medical attention I received, I was still ultimately told one day that (in basic terms) I’d just have to learn to live with the hearing loss, tinnitus, ear pressure, dizziness and sensitivity to sound.
Dana is right though, it is possible to live a more-or-less normal and active life following SSHL. There are tricks I use too. I try to sit in a corner if I meet a friend in a café, or if I go out for food to a restaurant with my boyfriend. I have also started to just tell people that I can’t hear well, and that they need to talk to me on my right side, and that I might need to ask them to repeat themselves. Some people can be really accommodating and even interested in how they can make communication easier. Others aren’t so much. Like Dana, I often just try to meet one friend at a time, as it is difficult to have a conversation with more than one person as it is hard to identify where speech is coming from, and so I’m never sure who is talking, and also more than one voice can overlap making it difficult to understand what has been said. It takes patience and resilience, but our bodies are amazing at adapting, and eventually the ‘new normal’ does become the ‘normal’.
One thing, I love running and have refused to give this up! Following a vertigo attack I had at the end of last year, I thought it wouldn’t be possible as my everyday dizziness was worse. However, through walking and exercising a bit every day I have started to run again and did an 8.5km run this morning – and could have done more 🙂 Be persistent and life will get easier 🙂
Anyway, please feel free to contact me via my blog contact page, if you’d like to chat or to ask any questions.
Best wishes
Carly
March 5, 2019 at 9:48 pm
Kathy
Aloha once again
🌺🌺🌺
I did forget to share with everyone I found this great sound masking machine on amazon. It is called Lectro Fan it basically sounds like your ceiling fan. It completely blocks any humming buzzing clicks chirps while you are sleeping. It was developed to help babies and adults with tinnunitus to sleep
Best $29.00 I ever spent. Doctor Thursday I will keep everyone posted on if my hole and ear infection have healed. I just don’t understand how nothing is known about the ear
Aloha🌺🌺🌺