If you have experienced significant hearing loss all at once or over a few days in one ear, seek immediate treatment for a diagnosis. Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL) is an extremely time-sensitive and emergent condition for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Once diagnosed, begin hyperbaric oxygen therapy within 72 hours (preferably 48 hours) for the highest chance of recovery. Because SSNHL’s cause is often mistaken as a symptom of a minor illness such as a sinus infection or allergy, many people delay treatment thinking their hearing will improve on its own.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a proven treatment for SSNHL to help regain hearing and is covered by some insurances. Results of a recent study published by the Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society in 2023 observed complete hearing recovery in 71 percent of the patients receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy within three days of symptom onset.

As the preliminary study reflects, treatment outcomes depend on how quickly sudden hearing loss is diagnosed. If you experience one-sided hearing loss, ask for an immediate referral after ruling out stroke with a CT scan. Most physicians treat one-sided hearing loss with steroids and vasodilators, but for an optimal outcome adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy intervention is needed to boost the efficacy of medications and supersaturate the body with oxygen to help regain tissue oxygenation to the structures within the cochlea and cochlear capillary network into the cortilymph and perilymph, the primary oxygen source for these intracochlear structures.

The treatable condition is known by multiple names including:

• Unilateral (one-sided) hearing loss

• Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (“idiopathic” is used to signify any disease or condition that spontaneously occurs without a know origin and “sensorineural” refers to hearing loss from a lesion or disease of the inner ear or the auditory nerve)

• Sudden sensorineural deafness

The hearing loss occurs from damage in the inner ear or in the nerve pathways between the ear and the brain. Hearing loss may be accompanied by a loud pop. Some people describe it as a sensation of fullness or ringing in the ears. Others may experience balance difficulties and dizziness. Most commonly, normal conversations sound faint or muffled like whispers.

In the high percentage of cases where the cause is unknown, it’s likely hearing loss occurs from a combination of inflammation and a lack of oxygen, two major complications hyperbaric oxygen therapy aggressively addresses. Many researchers believe many cases are caused by a viral infection or triggered by an autoimmune response. The other 10 percent of SSNHL cases have an identifiable cause from inflammation, such as:

• Viral infections

• Bacterial infections

• Vascular occlusion (blockage)

• Cochlear membrane breaks in the inner ear

• Autoimmune disease

• Neurological disorders

• Neoplasms (growths of abnormal tissue like tumors)

• Ototoxic drugs (drugs that harm the ears)

• Psychogenic causes

• Congenital defects

Patients experiencing sudden deafness may benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy by its ability to:

• Work synergistically with steroid treatment.

• Recover hearing (levels dependent on individual’s response and timeliness of referral).

• Resolve lack of blood / oxygen supply to the inner ear reversing some of the damaging side effects like inflammation.

WHEN TO REFER TO HYOX:

• Immediately post diagnosis and/or after ruling out stroke with a CT scan. A diagnosis within 48-72 hours is best to treat sudden hearing loss with the least amount of permanent damage. Patients should receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy within the 72-hour window for optimal results. The exam requires advanced equipment to properly measure and screen hearing loss by decibels. Decibels measure the loudness of sounds. For example, a whisper is measured at 30 decibels and normal speech at 60. Typically, SSNHL is diagnosed with the loss of at least 30 decibels over at least three connected test frequencies occurring within three days.

• An either/or approach is not efficient. In the case of a blocked blood vessel in the inner ear, steroids will do little. Utilizing hyperbaric oxygen therapy adjunctively with steroid treatment is the best chance for improving sudden hearing loss. Ask your healthcare professional, ENT specialist or emergency department personnel to prescribe both treatments at the same time.

If you or a loved one is suffering from a sudden hearing loss accompanied by fullness, ringing, a difficulty hearing high pitches, and an inability to hear background sounds or conversations, please contact us at 678-303-3200.