If you woke up and one ear sounds like a blocked headphone—or like someone turned the world to mono—this is your sign to act now. Sudden hearing loss is time-sensitive. The sooner you move, the better your odds.

First: How to Recognize a True Sudden Hearing Change

Sudden hearing loss can be dramatic, but it can also be sneaky. You might notice it after a phone call or when you try to localize a sound and can’t. Classic clues include:

  • A drop in hearing over hours to a couple of days, usually in one ear
  • A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear without a cold
  • New tinnitus (ringing, buzzing, hissing) in the affected ear
  • Sounds seem distorted or tinny; voices are hard to understand
  • Dizziness or unsteadiness, sometimes with nausea

It’s not always complete silence. Even a sudden, significant “muffle” counts. Don’t wait for it to “clear.”

Why the Clock Matters (The 72-Hour Window)

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL)—a fast drop in inner-ear or nerve function—needs urgent evaluation. Guidelines recommend starting treatment as soon as possible, ideally within 24–72 hours and within two weeks at most. Early treatment is linked to better outcomes.

Not every sudden hearing drop is inner-ear nerve damage. Some are conductive (earwax block, middle-ear fluid, a pressure problem). That’s exactly why a prompt exam matters: you want the right diagnosis and the right care, fast.

Quick At-Home Clues: Conductive vs. Sensorineural

These simple checks won’t replace an exam, but they can help you sense urgency while you arrange care:

The phone swap test

  • Play a familiar podcast on your phone at a comfortable volume.
  • Listen with your right ear, then your left. If one side suddenly sounds much quieter or distorted today (and wasn’t yesterday), consider it urgent.

The humming check

  • Hum out loud with your mouth gently closed and notice where the sound “feels” louder.
  • If it seems louder in the affected ear, it can suggest a conductive block (like wax or fluid). If it seems louder in the better ear, it can suggest an inner-ear problem (SSNHL).

These are just clues—don’t self-diagnose. If your hearing changed suddenly, act now.

Red flags that scream “urgent”

  • Hearing dropped in one ear over hours to days
  • New tinnitus, ear fullness, or distortion in that ear
  • Dizziness, imbalance, or nausea with the hearing change
  • Recent viral illness followed by sudden ear changes

Call an audiologist or ENT. If you can’t get same-day care, consider urgent care or the emergency department—especially if you also have severe dizziness, a severe headache, facial weakness, or neurologic symptoms.

What to Do Right Now

  1. Prioritize a same-day hearing evaluation. Ask for an urgent audiogram (hearing test) and tympanometry (middle-ear check). Many hearing clinics squeeze in sudden cases—tell them it’s a new, sudden change.
  2. See an ENT (otolaryngologist) promptly. They can confirm the type of loss and discuss treatment options. If access is delayed, get the audiogram first and bring the results.
  3. Avoid “wait and see” for more than a day or two. Some cases do improve on their own—but you can’t know which ones will. Early treatment can tilt the odds in your favor.
  4. Skip DIY ear cleaning. Cotton swabs and ear candles can injure the canal or eardrum. If wax is suspected, let a clinician check.
  5. Be cautious with decongestants. Over-the-counter decongestants won’t treat inner-ear loss and can raise blood pressure or interact with medications.

Gentle CTA: If this sounds like you, call an audiology clinic or ENT now and use the words “sudden hearing loss.” That phrase matters.

What Happens at the Clinic

The evaluation

  • Audiogram: Confirms the degree and configuration of hearing loss, comparing both ears.
  • Tympanometry and otoscopic exam: Checks for eardrum movement, fluid, or wax—helping distinguish conductive vs. sensorineural causes.
  • Blood work or imaging as needed: An MRI of the inner ear and brainstem may be ordered to rule out rare causes like a vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma).

Treatment options you may be offered

  • Corticosteroids: The mainstay for SSNHL. These can be given as oral pills or injected through the eardrum (intratympanic steroids). Some clinicians use both. Timing matters most—sooner is better.
  • Intratympanic steroids as “salvage”: If hearing doesn’t adequately improve on oral steroids, direct-to-ear injections are often offered within the first few weeks.
  • Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT): In some centers, HBOT may be offered within two weeks of onset or as salvage within a month, often alongside steroids.

Antivirals and other add-on drugs haven’t consistently shown benefit for typical SSNHL. Your clinician will tailor care to you, especially if you have diabetes, autoimmune conditions, or take medications that impact the ear.

After the Acute Phase: If Hearing Stays Down

Not everyone gets back to baseline—even with fast care. If your hearing stays reduced, you still have excellent tools to thrive.

Rehab options

  • Hearing aids: Modern devices can boost clarity, manage tinnitus, and reduce listening effort. A thoughtful fitting makes a big difference.
  • CROS/BiCROS systems: If one ear hears poorly and the other is good, a CROS routes sound from the weaker side to the better ear, restoring awareness of sounds on your “blind side.”
  • Cochlear implant (for single-sided deafness): If the ear has very poor word understanding, implants can restore access to sound and improve localization and tinnitus for some people.
  • Tinnitus support: Sound therapy, counseling, and hearing aid masking features can lower the emotional “grip” of tinnitus.

Gentle CTA: Ask an audiologist to map a plan: device options, communication strategies, and follow-up milestones. You deserve a team, not a shrug.

Preventing a Second Hit (Protect What You’ve Got)

  • Guard your good ear. Use quality earplugs or earmuffs in loud sound. Keep concerts, power tools, and yard gear at safe levels.
  • Review medications. Some drugs are ototoxic (can harm hearing). Never stop a prescribed med on your own, but do ask your prescriber whether safer alternatives or monitoring are appropriate.
  • Mind heart and metabolic health. Blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar influence inner-ear blood flow. Healthy hearing loves healthy vessels.
  • Get a baseline audiogram. Then recheck if anything changes. Tracking helps catch issues early.

Myth-Busting: Sudden Hearing Loss Edition

  • Myth: “It’s probably just wax—wait it out.”
    Reality: It could be, but you can’t know without a look and a test. Waiting risks missing the treatment window for SSNHL.
  • Myth: “Only total deafness counts as sudden loss.”
    Reality: A fast, big drop—even if some hearing remains—needs urgent attention.
  • Myth: “It only happens to older adults.”
    Reality: SSNHL can affect adults of many ages.
  • Myth: “If it didn’t bounce back in a week, nothing helps.”
    Reality: Treatments and rehab can improve clarity, reduce tinnitus, and restore function even after the acute phase.

A Compassionate Reality Check

Sudden hearing loss is scary. It’s also isolating—you didn’t plan for your world to tilt sideways overnight. Acting fast is powerful, but so is building a support plan for whatever comes next. With the right team and tools, you can get back to living, connecting, and enjoying sound again.

FAQs

Is it earwax or sudden hearing loss?

Wax typically causes a muffled, plugged feeling and is common after swimming or enthusiastic cotton swab use. SSNHL often comes with new tinnitus, distortion, or dizziness and doesn’t improve by yawning or swallowing. The only way to know is an urgent otoscopic exam and a hearing test—call a clinic the same day.

Will my hearing come back?

Some cases recover partially or fully, especially with prompt treatment. Others don’t. Early evaluation and guideline-based care give you the best shot. If hearing remains down, modern hearing tech and tinnitus strategies can dramatically boost day-to-day life.

Can I fly with sudden hearing loss?

Flying won’t fix an inner-ear loss and may worsen pressure discomfort if there’s a middle-ear issue. The priority is getting evaluated and starting appropriate treatment first. If you must travel, discuss precautions with your clinician.

Are steroids safe if I have diabetes or other conditions?

Steroids can raise blood sugar and have other side effects. Your clinician may adjust the type, dose, or route (oral vs. intratympanic) and monitor you closely. Don’t start or stop any medication without clinician guidance.

References

Further Reading

- Sudden Hearing Loss, Fast Action: Your First 48 Hours (Hearing Loss) - Sudden Hearing Loss? Don’t Wait—The 72‑Hour Window That Can Save Your Hearing (Hearing Loss) - When Sound Fades Overnight: The Hearing Emergency You Should Never Ignore (Hearing Loss) - Is Your Jaw Messing With Your Ears? TMJ, Ear Fullness, and That “Muffled” Feeling (Hearing Loss)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it earwax or sudden hearing loss?

Wax often causes a plugged, muffled sensation and may follow swimming or cotton swab use. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss tends to arrive quickly with new tinnitus, distortion, or dizziness and doesn’t improve with swallowing or yawning. The only way to know is a same-day otoscopic exam and audiogram—call a clinic now.

Will my hearing come back?

Some people recover partially or fully, especially with prompt treatment. Others do not. Early evaluation and guideline-based care offer the best odds. If hearing remains down, hearing aids, CROS/BiCROS, cochlear implants, and tinnitus strategies can restore function and reduce strain.

Can I fly with sudden hearing loss?

Flying won’t treat inner-ear loss and can worsen pressure issues if a middle-ear problem is present. Prioritize evaluation and treatment first. If travel is unavoidable, ask your clinician about precautions.

Are steroids safe if I have diabetes?

Steroids can raise blood sugar. Your clinician may adjust the dose or use intratympanic injections and will monitor you closely. Don’t start or stop any medication without professional guidance.

References