Sudden deafness, or sensorineural sudden hearing loss (SSHL), occurs when you quickly lose your hearing. This generally happens in one ear and may occur instantly or over several days. SSHL is the most common type of hearing loss among adults between the ages of 30 and 60 years old, and around 4,000 cases of sudden deafness are diagnosed each year within the U.S.
According to National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, about half of the people who have sudden hearing loss will recover within two weeks if they receive hyperbaric treatment for hearing loss. However, for some people, the condition grows worse over time, particularly if they don’t receive prompt treatment.
Most people only experience hearing loss in one ear with sudden deafness. You might notice it right after waking up in the morning, or when you hold a phone up to the affected ear or use headphones. In some cases, you may even hear a popping sound before you lose hearing.
Other common symptoms include the following: