Imagine waking up one morning and realizing one ear sounds like it’s stuffed with cotton. Voices are muffled—or everything on one side seems to disappear entirely. It’s unsettling, disorienting, and easy to dismiss as allergies or a simple earwax issue.
But sudden hearing changes should be taken seriously, said Nofrat Schwartz, MD, a neurotologist ear surgeon at Yale New Haven Health and assistant professor of Otolaryngology at Yale School of Medicine.
What is SSNHL?
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), sometimes called sudden deafness, is a rapid, unexplained loss of hearing that typically occurs all at once or over a span of up to three days, most often in one ear.
“We typically define it as losing 30 decibels or more across at least three hearing frequencies within 72 hours—but you don’t need to know the technical definition to recognize that something isn’t right,” Dr. Schwartz said.
Sign and symptoms of SSNHL include:
- Sudden hearing loss (typically in one ear), occurring instantly or over a few days
- A feeling of fullness or pressure in one ear
- Sounds becoming distorted or muffled
- Trouble understanding speech, especially in noisy environments
- Ringing in the ear (tinnitus)
- Dizziness or vertigo
What causes SSHL?
While researchers have a variety of theories that have yet to be proven, in most cases there is no clear cause, according to Dr. Schwartz. “Nearly 90 percent of cases of SSNHL are labeled ‘idiopathic,’ which means we don’t know why it happened,” she said.
Both men and women are affected at similar rates, with peak incidence of the condition occurring in adults ages 40 to 60. Medical conditions that may possibly be linked to higher risk include viral infections, autoimmune diseases and cardiovascular risk factors – but these are not conclusive, said Dr. Schwartz.
“Sudden sensorineural hearing loss really can happen to anyone at any age,” she said.
Seek medical attention right away
If you experience sudden deafness or hearing loss, don’t assume it will resolve on its own or try to treat it with decongestants or home remedies. SSNHL is considered a medical emergency, according to Dr. Schwartz. Without appropriate treatment, SSNHL may lead to permanent hearing loss. For this reason, you should go to the emergency department or urgent care as soon as you develop symptoms. Prompt evaluation—ideally by an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist—is recommended. Treatment for SSNHL is most effective when started as soon as possible, ideally within the first two weeks.
“Early treatment increases the chance that we can avoid irreversible nerve damage,” Dr. Schwartz said.
How is SSHL treated?
The most common first line treatment is steroids. These medications help reduce inflammation and swelling in the inner ear, which may help restore hearing.
You may also undergo a hearing test, imaging (such as an MRI) to rule out other factors, and balance or vestibular testing if dizziness is present.
Is the hearing loss permanent?
Not everyone regains their hearing fully, but early treatment significantly improves the chances of partial or complete recovery. Improvement often happens within the first few weeks, though changes can continue for months.
“That’s why it’s important to get evaluated right away,” Dr. Schwartz said. “Trust your instincts. A sudden change in hearing is not normal, and it deserves prompt attention.”
