72 Hours Matters: Treating Sudden Hearing Loss Without Losing Time

Lede: If one ear just went muffled, echoey, or silent—especially with a high-pitched ring or ear fullness—treat it like a medical sprint. The first 72 hours can shape your outcome. Here’s your calm, clear plan to get seen fast and understand the treatments that can help.

First, what do we mean by “sudden” hearing loss?

Sudden hearing loss typically means a rapid drop—often 30 dB or more—over hours to a couple of days. People often describe:

“I woke up and one ear was blocked.”
“The phone sounds hollow on my right ear.”
“A ringing started and then everything went dull.”

It can be sensorineural (inner ear/nerve) or conductive (wax, fluid, or middle ear issue). You can’t reliably tell which at home, and the treatments are very different, so same-day evaluation matters.

Why timing changes everything

With sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), earlier treatment is linked to better odds of meaningful recovery. Many guidelines emphasize evaluation and starting therapy as soon as possible—ideally within the first 72 hours and definitely within two weeks.

That doesn’t mean you’re out of luck if you’re reading this on day 4 or day 10. It simply means: don’t wait to see if it “clears up.” Get evaluated now.

What to do right now

Call an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) clinic or go to urgent care/emergency care and say: “I have sudden hearing loss in one ear.” Those exact words can speed triage.
If you have a known hearing care provider, call and ask for a same-day audiogram. Bring those results to an ENT.
Avoid starting or stopping any medications on your own. Bring a list of everything you take, including over-the-counter and supplements.
Protect your ears from loud sound while you’re recovering.
If you use hearing aids, keep them clean and charged; you may need them for testing and for rehab afterward.

At the clinic: what to expect

1) Exam to rule out conductive causes

Your clinician will examine the ear canal and eardrum to look for earwax, infection, or fluid behind the eardrum. If it’s wax, safe removal can sometimes restore hearing on the spot.

2) A same-day hearing test (audiogram)

This measures hearing across pitches and helps distinguish sensorineural vs. conductive loss. A quick tuning fork check may be used, but a formal audiogram is the gold standard.

3) Risk check and possible imaging

Depending on the pattern of loss and your symptoms, your clinician may order an MRI to rule out rare but important causes on the hearing nerve pathway. Blood tests are sometimes ordered based on history.

The treatments that help—evidence at a glance

For suspected SSNHL, the best-supported early therapy is steroids to reduce inner-ear inflammation. Two main routes are used, often together or sequentially:

Oral steroids

Often started quickly, oral steroids are a common first-line treatment if you have no contraindications. Typical courses are short. Your clinician will weigh benefits and risks (such as effects on blood sugar, blood pressure, mood, sleep, or stomach).

Intratympanic steroid injections

An ENT can place steroid medication through the eardrum into the middle ear, where it diffuses into the inner ear. This can be used as primary therapy, combined with pills, or as a “rescue” treatment if recovery stalls. Many people tolerate it better than they expect; you’re awake, it’s brief, and numbing drops are used.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)

Some guidelines consider HBOT as an adjunct within two weeks of onset, particularly when used with steroids. It’s not available everywhere and isn’t for everyone, but it can be discussed with your ENT.

What the timeline often looks like

Day 0–3: Evaluation and treatment start (ideally now).
Week 1–2: Recheck hearing. Adjust plan; consider intratympanic treatment if needed.
Week 2–6: Repeat audiograms to track recovery. Tinnitus or fullness may improve as hearing returns.

Important: The right choice depends on your health history, exam, and audiogram. Work with an ENT/audiologist team to tailor the plan.

Common questions, answered quickly

Isn’t this just an ear infection?

Possibly—but not safely assumed. Ear infections often cause pain and fever, while SSNHL usually doesn’t hurt. Only an exam and audiogram can tell. That’s why same-day evaluation is key.

Could it just be earwax?

Sometimes, yes, and wax is a relief to fix. But because SSNHL needs prompt treatment, you still want an exam right now rather than watchful waiting.

Do I need imaging?

Not always. Imaging decisions depend on your hearing test pattern, neurological symptoms, and exam. Your clinician will guide you.

What not to do

Don’t wait a week “to see if it clears.” The odds of recovery are generally better the sooner treatment starts.
Don’t self-prescribe leftover steroids or someone else’s medication. Doses, timing, and safety checks matter.
Don’t blast the affected ear with loud sound to “test” it. Protect it while you’re healing.
Don’t clean deep inside your ear canal with cotton swabs or objects. You can push wax deeper or injure the eardrum.

Side effects and safety: what to discuss with your clinician

Most people do well with short courses of steroids, but side effects can include mood changes, stomach irritation, elevated blood sugar, insomnia, and increased blood pressure. If you have diabetes, hypertension, glaucoma, or a history of stomach ulcers, tell your clinician. Intratympanic injections avoid whole-body exposure but can cause brief dizziness or a temporary metallic taste.

Hyperbaric oxygen involves time in a pressurized chamber; some people experience ear pressure discomfort or claustrophobia. Your clinician will screen you for eligibility.

Recovery: what improvement looks like

Recovery can be partial or complete and may unfold over weeks. Some people notice a quick jump in clarity; others improve gradually. Tinnitus and fullness may fade as hearing recovers.

Your care team will likely schedule follow-up hearing tests to measure progress. Keep these appointments—even small improvements can guide next steps.

If hearing doesn’t fully return, you still have strong options

Hearing rehabilitation

Hearing aids: Modern devices can amplify the frequencies you’ve lost and reduce listening effort.
CROS/BiCROS systems: For single-sided hearing loss, these reroute sound from the poorer ear to the better ear.
Bone conduction solutions: Wearable or implantable systems can help in certain single-sided or conductive cases.
Cochlear implant: For severe or profound loss that doesn’t benefit from hearing aids, a cochlear implant may restore access to sound. Evaluation is straightforward and worth considering sooner rather than later.

Tinnitus support

Hearing aids with sound therapy features can reduce the contrast of tinnitus.
Structured tinnitus therapies (such as cognitive behavioral approaches or sound-based programs) help many people regain control and calm.

Ask an audiologist to walk you through options matched to your hearing test and lifestyle. If you’ve never tried modern devices, you may be surprised by how much easier conversation can feel again.

Self-care while you heal

Prioritize sleep and stress management; both can affect how your brain processes sound.
Stay hydrated and eat regularly—especially important if you’re on steroids.
Use hearing protection in loud environments (concerts, power tools, sporting events).
Lean on communication strategies: face-to-face conversation, good lighting, and quieter seating can make a big difference.

When to seek immediate care

Sudden hearing loss in one or both ears.
Hearing loss with severe dizziness, facial weakness, or neurological symptoms.
Hearing loss after head trauma.

In any of these situations, get urgent medical care. It’s okay to say, “I’m worried about sudden sensorineural hearing loss” when you check in.

Takeaway

If your hearing changed suddenly, time matters—but you’re not alone. The path is clear: get examined, get an audiogram, and talk through treatment options—often steroids, sometimes intratympanic injections, and in select cases hyperbaric oxygen. Then, whether your hearing bounces back fully or partially, build a rehab plan with an audiologist so you can keep connecting with the people and sounds that matter.

Gentle nudge: If this sounds like you (or someone you love), make that call now. Your future self will thank you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start leftover steroids at home if I can’t get an appointment today?

It’s best not to self-start or use someone else’s medication. Steroid type, dose, timing, and your health conditions all matter. Call an ENT or urgent care and explain you have sudden hearing loss—clinics often prioritize these visits the same day. If you’re truly unable to be seen promptly, discuss next steps with a clinician by phone or telemedicine before taking anything.

Is it ever too late to treat sudden hearing loss?

Improvement can still happen beyond 72 hours, and many clinicians treat within a two-week window. Even if more time has passed, get evaluated—your team can discuss potential benefits vs. risks of therapy and help you plan rehabilitation options to minimize impact on daily life.

Will my hearing fully recover?

Many people improve, some fully, others partially. Factors can include how quickly treatment starts, the degree and pattern of loss, and your overall health. Follow-up audiograms help track change and guide next steps. If some loss remains, modern hearing technology and tinnitus therapies can dramatically reduce day-to-day difficulty.

Could stress or allergies cause this?

Stress and allergies can affect how ears feel, but sudden, significant hearing change deserves a medical exam and hearing test right away to rule out sensorineural loss. Don’t assume it’s “just allergies.” Quick evaluation keeps options open.

72 Hours Matters: Treating Sudden Hearing Loss Without Losing Time

First, what do we mean by “sudden” hearing loss?

Why timing changes everything

What to do right now