| Sudden hearing Loss:
One of the least understood and most frustrating types of hearing loss
occurs suddenly. Usually but not always when the person is asleep.
Sometimes a loud POP is heard other times the person wakes up with little
or no hearing in one ear. Very rarely does a sudden hearing loss happen in
both ears at the same time.
It is extremely important that if a person suffers from a sudden loss
they go to the emergency room or preferably to their ENT, if they have
one, and the office is open.
Any treatment must be administered as soon as possible. Most sudden
hearing losses are untreatable because too much time elapses between the episode
and the seeking of medical intervention. Current thinking is a small blood
clot breaks loose and shuts off supply to the Cochlea. The nerve then dies
from lack of blood. Sometimes balance is affected other times it is not.
Almost always a hearing aid in the effective ear only confuses the
brain and does not make speech clearer. Often a "Cross" style
hearing system can restore a sense of direction, which a person who has
poorer hearing in one ear than the other looses. This accomplished by
putting a microphone in or next to the affected ear and sending the sound
to the good ear. Both wireless and wired systems are available. A Cross
system also eliminates the need to turn the good ear to face the speaker
which is annoying to everyone especially the individual who is doing the
talking. |
