Anyone had sudden sensorineural hearing loss?

[Noitsnotteatimeyet]

Three weeks ago I suddenly became deaf in one ear - it happened out of the blue - woke up fine, deaf in one ear by the afternoon. I've also got very loud tinnitus (constant high-pitched whine) and am feeling dizzy and a bit 'seasick'. My GP referred me to the emergency ENT clinic and I saw the doctor today. A hearing test confirmed marked hearing loss on one side and the doctor thinks I've got sudden sensorineural hearing loss. I've been started on high-dose steroids and will have an MRI to rule out a benign tumour next week.

Has anyone else had this? Anything which helped? Dr Google tells me half of all people affected regain some or all of their hearing within two weeks but as my symptoms haven't changed I'm presumably in the half that doesn't although right now I'd happily trade my hearing in if someone told me I could get rid of this awful awful noise .... (not feeling sick would be a bonus too ..)

Hopeful bump

I'm feeling overwhelmingly exhausted - is this a result of the steroids?

Hello did you have any other symptoms prior to the sudden hearing loss?

I developed tinnitus in one ear 5 wks ago and I'm waiting for an ent appt I'm scared I got that acoustic neuroma :(

No - it came on very suddenly over the course of a day - woke up fine but realised I couldn't hear anything out of that ear by the afternoon

I hope your appointment goes well, if it's any consolation acoustic neuroma is pretty rare so it's much more likely to be something else

Thankyou, sorry I couldn't be of more help. Good luck with your MRI hope it goes well. Let us know how you get on

I had an autistic neuroma ( benign tumour), I did have hearing loss on my affected side but also migraines, facial numbness, loss of balance etc so unlikely to be an AN as previous poster said.

I also had no tinatus and no 'seasickness' - I live on a boat now!

Good luck with MRI

Not sure if you are stick checking this thread but wonder how you are? I also am suffering from SSHL and really struggling.

@fourlittlekangaroos I've been diagnosed with Meniere's - I'm still almost completely deaf on the right side, have constant tinnitus and feeling of fullness in my ear. The dizziness is not so bad unless I move suddenly so I think my brain's started to adjust (but my dog bumped into me the other day and I went flying - he doesn't weigh that much so I shouldn't have lost my balance, came down very heavily and have massive bruising all down my left side).

I'm back to see the consultant next month. I've been on a low salt, no caffeine diet but it doesn't seem to have made any difference.

@fourlittlekangaroos sorry to hear you're struggling too - has any of your hearing returned?

I also have menieres disease, it didn't come on suddenly though, very gradual for me. Has your ENT given you anything to help with it?

Not good news from my end. I have SSHL with severe deafness in left ear (right is normal thankfully). It's terrifying and hard to adjust. I've finished the course of oral steroids and now having steroid ear injections. I thought things had improved this week but the hearing test showing almost no improvement at all. I'm -55 at lower frequencies and -70 at higher. Feeling unsteady on feet but not horribly dizzy (could be to do with prednisolone withdrawal as was on 60 mg for a week).