Question: Hello, my little sister who is 20 just got diagnosed with sudden sensor neural hearing loss (SSHL) and I just wanted to get some expert opinion on what she is supposed to do and what the appropriate treatment is. She has completely lost hearing in one ear. She is taking steroids, but she has not seen any improvement since she got diagnosed. Is there anything else she can do to increase her chance of recovery?
Answer:
The next step to treating sudden sensor neural hearing loss is usually an intratympanic injection of a steroid medication. This is a usually painless procedure done in the office with topical anesthesia where a liquid steroid medication is injected through the eardrum into the middle ear space.
If she is in the New York area I suggest she Dr. Neil Sperling at our practice.
Hope this clears things up,
Dr. Scott Gold
Frequently Asked Questions
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) is a rapid loss of hearing, typically in one ear, that occurs over a short period. It is considered a medical emergency and often requires immediate treatment to improve the chances of recovery.
The initial treatment for SSHL commonly involves oral steroids to reduce inflammation and improve hearing recovery. If there is no improvement, an intratympanic steroid injection, which delivers medication directly into the middle ear through the eardrum, is often the next recommended step.
An intratympanic steroid injection involves injecting a liquid steroid medication through the eardrum into the middle ear space. This procedure is usually painless, performed in the office with topical anesthesia, and helps to deliver steroids directly to the affected area to increase the chance of hearing recovery.
If there is no significant improvement after oral steroid treatment, patients are often advised to consider intratympanic steroid injections as the next step. Consulting an ear specialist promptly can help determine if this treatment is appropriate.
Yes, patients with SSHL are encouraged to see otolaryngologists or ear specialists experienced in treating this condition. In the New York area, for example, Dr. Neil Sperling at the referenced practice is recommended for further treatment.
