Sudden hearing loss is usually related to the development of an ear infection due to the flu and is therefore not usually definitive.
However, sudden deafness can also have other causes such as:
- Viral diseases such as mumps, measles or chicken pox; Bumps on the head, even if they do not directly affect the ear; Use of anti-inflammatory or antibiotic drugs; Autoimmune disease, such as HIV or lupus; Inner ear problems, such as Meniere's disease.
These causes cause inflammation of the structures of the ear, which is why hearing is affected, at least until the inflammation subsides. Thus, it is rare that the deafness is definitive, improving again after a few days of treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs.
In addition, this type of deafness can also appear due to direct trauma to the ear, such as listening to music too loudly, using cotton swabs incorrectly or placing objects in the ear canal, for example. This type of activity can cause damage to the structures of the ear, such as rupture of the eardrum, and may even cause permanent deafness.
Symptoms of sudden deafness
In addition to reduced ability to hear, the most frequent symptoms of sudden deafness are the appearance of tinnitus and a feeling of increased pressure inside the ear, usually caused by inflammation of the structures of the ear.
How to treat sudden deafness
Treatment varies according to the cause and, therefore, before going to the hospital you can try to treat the problem at home, especially in cases where the deafness appeared after getting water in the ear, for example. See the best techniques to decompress the ear and treat this problem.
When the deafness appears during a flu, one should wait for the flu to improve to see if the hearing improves or remains affected, for example.
However, it is advisable to go to the hospital when the deafness continues for more than 2 days without any apparent cause to do hearing and blood tests, in order to find the cause and start the treatment, which is usually done with anti- inflammatory to apply to the ear.
See how the most serious hearing problems can be treated at: Learn about the treatments for hearing loss.
