SUDDEN HEARING LOSS IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY

In this column, Doctor Jessie addresses sudden onset hearing loss, looking at causes, treatment, and explains why it is a medical emergency.

By Jessie Stone Words and photos: Jessie Stone

Sudden sensory neural hearing loss (SSHL), otherwise known as sudden hearing loss, is more common than you may think, occurring as frequently as one in every 5,000 people. As the name implies, it comes on suddenly – one day you can hear and the next you cannot. Having just experienced this myself, I have first-hand knowledge of this phenomenon. By definition, “sudden” hearing loss can occur all at once or as a slow loss, taking place over up to 72 hours. In 90% of cases, it affects one ear only. People often describe waking up one morning and not being able to hear out of one ear, which is exactly what happened to me! It turns out I’m not alone, and that kayakers may be more predisposed to SSHL than…

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Kayak Session (Digital) - 1 Issue, Summer 2018

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