Hearing loss, which is a general term for reduced or lost hearing, is caused by several factors such as congenital abnormalities in the ear, rupture of the eardrum, damage to the auditory nerve, and ear-related diseases. Sudden hearing loss is one of these types of hearing loss. Sudden hearing loss is classified as sudden hearing loss when a hearing loss of 30 dB or more occurs within 3 days at 3 or more consecutive frequencies in a pure tone audiometry test.
Although the exact cause of sudden hearing loss is not yet known, it can be caused by viral infections such as colds and flu, herpes zoster and mumps, as well as vascular inflammation of the inner ear, blood flow disturbance, cochlear rupture, and auditory nerve tumor. It is known to occur by damaging nerves or narrowing blood vessels in the cochlea. In addition, it is estimated that it is caused by various factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and multiple sclerosis, which cause peripheral blood circulation disorders, as well as perilymph fistula and vertebral artery abnormalities, sudden noise exposure, fatigue, and stress. there is.
It is known that sudden hearing loss occurs most often in the 30s and 50s, and the incidence rate increases with increasing age. However, in recent years, the incidence is increasing among the younger age group under the age of 30 due to the increase in the frequency of exposure to noise due to the increased use of earphones and environmental factors such as stress and overwork, and this number is increasing every year. Now, let’s take a closer look at the main symptoms of sudden hearing loss, as well as various information on treatment and prevention.
Main symptoms of sudden hearing loss
When sudden hearing loss occurs, the main symptom is that sensorineural hearing loss occurs suddenly within a few hours or 2-3 days without a definite and clear cause. In addition, this feeling of fullness as if the ears are clogged up and tinnitus symptoms, in which sound is felt without external sound stimulation, may appear. In addition, the sound in both ears is different, and it is accompanied by symptoms of dizziness, vomiting, and difficulty in standing upright.
It is important to detect and treat these sudden hearing loss early. As it belongs to an emergency disease that has a high probability of recovering hearing if it is treated as soon as possible, more than 70% recovery is achieved if treatment is received within 2 weeks after the onset. To some extent, the treatment may not be effective. In addition, if the treatment period is delayed in this way, the recovery rate will further decrease, and if it continues for more than 3 months, in the worst case, permanent hearing loss can occur. Therefore, if tinnitus is suddenly heard and the main symptoms such as a feeling of fullness continue to appear over 24 hours, it is important to visit the hospital promptly and receive a prompt examination and treatment.
Treatment and prevention of sudden hearing loss
1. Appropriate diagnosis and treatment
Sudden hearing loss is diagnosed by taking a basic history and performing a basic hearing test and detailed hearing test to determine the degree of hearing loss. If necessary, MRI, blood tests, and inflammatory disease tumor tests are performed to confirm the tumor and whether there is a medical disease that may be the cause. After that, depending on the diagnosis result, treatment using steroids, antiviral drugs, vasodilators, blood circulation improving drugs, diuretics, etc. is carried out. In particular, steroids are known to be the most effective treatment for sudden hearing loss, so they are treated by taking steroids or administering them directly to the inside of the gourd. In addition, depending on the presumed cause and severity of symptoms, surgery may be considered for treatment.
2. Implement the habit of protecting your ears from noise
Sudden hearing loss is caused by sudden exposure to noise, which accounts for a large proportion of the incidence, so it is very important to reduce exposure to noise-generating factors as much as possible. Also, if you are exposed to a lot of noise due to the nature of your work, it is important to reduce the noise as much as possible by wearing earplugs. In addition, listening to earphones and headphones at high volume for a long time acts as a cause of sudden hearing loss, so it is recommended to reduce the usage time and listen at 50-60% of the maximum volume. It is recommended to avoid being near loud speakers in concert halls or karaoke rooms, etc., as it can also affect the occurrence of sudden hearing loss. In addition, it is important to implement habits such as eating habits and regular exercise to increase immunity to protect the body from viruses, as well as to take a large part in the occurrence of infections caused by viruses, and at the same time, meticulous personal hygiene management.
3. Control your intake of fatty and salty foods
In order to prevent sudden hearing loss and improve symptoms, it is necessary to control the intake of high-fat, fatty foods and foods high in sodium. In addition, alcohol and smoking can interfere with the flow of blood flow to the auditory system and increase the risk of sudden hearing loss, so it is recommended to reduce and limit it.
In addition, excessive mental stress and fatigue are also known as factors affecting the occurrence of sudden hearing loss, so taking sufficient rest and managing stress appropriately are also important management habits for preventing and relieving symptoms.
