Most hearing loss comes on slowly, over months or years, and there is rarely any need to rush to be seen. Sudden hearing loss is different. When your hearing drops away quickly, over a few hours or overnight so that you wake up unable to hear on one side, it can be a genuine medical emergency, and getting the right care in the first few days really does matter.
This is one of the few times we will say it plainly: please do not wait for a routine appointment with us. Below is what sudden hearing loss is, how to recognise the warning signs, and why same-day NHS care has to come first.
What is sudden sensorineural hearing loss?
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss, often shortened to SSNHL, is a rapid loss of hearing that comes from the inner ear or the hearing nerve, rather than from something simple blocking the ear canal. It is usually defined as a noticeable drop in hearing that develops within about three days, and it most often affects one ear.
It can show up in different ways. You might notice:
- One ear suddenly feeling full, blocked or "switched off"
- Muffled or missing hearing on one side, sometimes noticed first on the phone
- Ringing or buzzing (tinnitus) that starts suddenly alongside the loss
- Dizziness or a sense of imbalance
The cause is not always found, and that is normal. It can be linked to a viral illness, changes in blood supply to the inner ear, or other reasons. Because the inner ear is delicate, the opportunity to treat it well is short. You can read more about the different types of hearing loss and how they behave, but the key point with a sudden change is speed.
How do I know if it is an emergency?
Treat sudden hearing loss as urgent, and seek same-day medical advice, if any of the following apply:
- Your hearing has dropped quickly, over hours or a day or two, especially in one ear
- Sudden tinnitus or dizziness has come on with the change in hearing
- The loss followed a head injury or a very loud noise
Some symptoms need emergency care straight away. If sudden hearing loss comes with facial weakness or drooping, slurred speech, severe or "worst ever" headache, severe dizziness, or any numbness or weakness elsewhere, call 999 or go to A&E, as these can point to something that needs immediate attention.
Why does timing matter so much?
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is often treated with a course of steroids, and the evidence points to treatment working best when it is started early, ideally within the first week or so. Hearing tends to recover best when the cause is looked at within days rather than weeks.
We do not say this to frighten you. Many people recover well, some completely, and a good number of cases settle. But the odds are simply better the sooner you are seen, which is why a sudden change is worth acting on today rather than waiting to see if it clears on its own.
What should I do right now?
If your hearing has dropped suddenly, here is the order to follow:
- Contact your GP today and ask for an urgent appointment. Say clearly that you have sudden hearing loss, and in which ear.
- If you cannot get seen the same day, call NHS 111. They can advise and arrange urgent care.
- For the emergency signs above, call 999 or go to A&E.
Please do not book a routine hearing appointment with us as a substitute for urgent care, and do not "give it a few days" to settle. When hearing changes suddenly, getting in front of a GP or the NHS quickly is the single most helpful thing you can do.
What if it turns out to be something simple?
Sometimes a blocked, muffled ear is caused by nothing more than earwax or the after-effects of a cold, and that is genuinely good news. The honest problem is that you cannot reliably tell the difference at home between a wax plug and a true inner-ear emergency, and the safe assumption with a sudden change is to get it checked urgently first.
Once the emergency has been ruled out or treated, that is where an independent clinic like ours fits in. If wax is the culprit, we remove it gently by microsuction. If a hearing assessment is the next sensible step, we will take our time over it. You can see what to expect on your first visit, with no pressure and no hard sell.
If your hearing has dropped suddenly, please seek urgent NHS care today, then we can help once it is safe. When you have been seen and the emergency is behind you, you can book an assessment with us or call 01709 437250.
