History and definition
Swedish otologist A. de Kleyn's 1944 series of sudden hearing loss in healthy people helped establish it as a distinct condition. Guidelines such as the American Academy of Otolaryngology's 2019 update define it as a sensorineural loss of at least 30 dB in three consecutive frequencies within 72 hours. It is most common between 40 and 60.
Symptoms and causes
People often wake with one ear muffled or notice they can't hear the phone. Tinnitus and dizziness frequently accompany it. Unlike conductive blockage from wax or middle-ear fluid, the problem lies in the cochlea or auditory nerve; viral infection, impaired inner-ear blood flow and autoimmunity are suspected, but most cases have no identified cause. MRI may be advised to rule out a rare acoustic neuroma.
Treatment and recovery
Oral or intratympanic steroids are standard; the 2019 guideline recommends starting within two weeks and considering hyperbaric oxygen within six. Roughly a third recover fully and a third partly, with worse odds in older patients and those with vertigo. Residual loss can be aided with hearing aids, and since hearing loss is a dementia risk factor, it should not be ignored.
This article is general health information and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. If symptoms persist, see a doctor.
FAQ
- Is there a golden window?
- No fixed cutoff, but starting treatment within two weeks—ideally the first days—gives better results.
- Should I see a doctor if my ear feels blocked?
- If one ear suddenly feels blocked and hearing drops, get a hearing test from an ENT as soon as possible.
Sources reviewed: 2026-10-26
References
- Chandrasekhar, S. S., et al. (2019). Clinical practice guideline: Sudden hearing loss (update). Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, 161(1_suppl), S1–S45.
- De Kleyn, A. (1944). Sudden complete or partial loss of function of the octavus-system in apparently normal persons. Acta Oto-Laryngologica, 32, 407–429.
- 대한이과학회. (2024). 돌발성 난청 진료 지침.