Sudden Hearing Loss - Suggestions?

[LQB]

Hi All,

This morn I woke up with greatly reduced hearing in my left ear and loud tinnitus. Everything was fine upon going to sleep last night but I did notice the prob sometime during the night when I got up to go to the bathroom. Hearing is drastically reduced in my left ear and very alarming. A short look on the web produced this:

About one-third of the people with SSHL discover their hearing loss when they wake up in the morning. They go to bed with normal hearing, and in the morning they realize they are deaf in one or both ears! Fortunately, SSHL only affects both ears about 2-4% of the time. Other people discover their loss when they go to use the phone and realize they can't hear the phone with one ear any more.

SSHL may be almost instantaneous. In such cases, you may notice a loud sound or a loud "pop" just before your hearing disappears. You will also experience dizziness or vertigo 50% of the time and tinnitus (ringing in your ears) about 70% of the time. Incidentally, the intensity of your vertigo often roughly corresponds to the degree of your hearing loss. You might also have a feeling of fullness in your ear(s) and a headache.

How common is SSHL? It varies, but the average seems to be that about one person in 10,000 experiences SSHL in any given year.

If your hearing loss was less than 90 dB and not limited to the mid-frequencies, then immediate treatment with steroids (within 10 days) has a 78% chance of restoring your hearing (or at least some of it). The only treatment that has proved effective (supported by double-blind trials) is corticosteroid treatment-usually Prednisone or Prednisolone. This generally works if you have a hearing loss in only one ear, your loss is a moderate loss across many frequencies and you are younger than 40.

Apparently this study was not entirely accurate since it was not randomized and thus may have produced exaggerated results. Furthermore, the study does not inform doctors what dose of steroids to use, nor at what time after treatment it expect improvement.1

Note that at the present time, there is no truly successful therapy for people with SSHL because even after treatment, you still will likely have considerable hearing loss. In fact, some ear specialists choose not to treat sudden sensorineural hearing loss at all, citing spontaneous recovery rates of 32-70%.1
Studies indicate that the current practice doctors use—called the "shotgun" approach—giving steroids, vasodilators, diuretics, antihistamines, anticoagulants, carbogen, anti-virals, etc. and hoping that one or the other will do some good, was found to be no more effective than doing nothing at all! Only the steroids have been found effective in certain cases (described above).

No difference existed between people treated with antiviral plus steroids vs. placebo plus steroids, nor was there any difference between people treated with steroids vs. people treated with any other active treatment.1

So although positive results have been reported favoring systemic steroids, steroids injected through the eardrum, magnesium, vitamin E and hyperbaric oxygen, there are no randomized, blinded studies supporting the efficacy of any of these treatments. Therefore, at this time "sudden sensorineural hearing loss remains a medical emergency without a scientific understanding of its cause or a rational approach to its treatment."1

I received an interesting email from a man who was afflicted with single-sided sudden hearing loss in 2006, followed by vertigo and a Meniere's diagnosis. He underwent what appears to be standard treatment with mixed results until an allergy test revealed that he was allergic to milk and chocolate. Shortly after he eliminated those foods from his diet, his symptoms all but disappeared! And he has since been successfully reintroducing both chocolate and milk back into his diet!
……..
For reasons that are unclear, the window for effective treatment appears to be two to four weeks from the time a patient is aware of diminished hearing; after that, hearing loss can become permanent, writes Harvard professor of otolaryngology Steven D. Rauch in a 2008 article in the New England Journal of Medicine. Rauch reports that the malady affects men and women equally and typically occurs between the ages of 43 and 53.
......

Locke's office arranged for Curtis to be seen immediately by an ENT at Johns Hopkins Medicine. After further testing, Curtis agreed to enroll in a multi-center study, funded by the National Institutes of Health and led by Rauch, comparing several weeks of oral steroids with medication injected directly into the ear. Called intratympanic treatments, this method delivers a high concentration of drug to the affected area, avoiding the systemic effects of steroids, which can include mood changes, insomnia and weight gain. Results of the study are pending.

Curtis called the injections "one of the most painful treatments I've ever had to endure. It felt like acid eating into my ear."
But within weeks, his hearing was fully restored.

He says he feels lucky that he called his doctor in time and grateful that Locke recognized the medical emergency and ensured that he received rapid treatment.

"I had always assumed that something as serious as losing your hearing would be accompanied by pain like an earache or damage," Curtis said. "This was just so out of the blue."

Out of the blue, indeed! I'm 55 y/o - so in the window of age where the occurrence is more common. Nothing unusual has happened like injury, loud noise, etc. No infection or cold (that I know of), and no vertigo upon getting up this morn. There is some evidence that allergy/autoimmune may play a role. But I have been gluten/dairy/soy free for the better part of a year and adhering to the Paleo diet. The only thing a bit out of the ordinary diet-wise was a sweet potato recipe that I had 2 helpings of last night. It was a pan saute dish that called for 2 sticks of butter, 1/4 cup sugar (I used xylitol plus 2 TBLs maple syrup) and 1 tsp cinnamon plus 1 tsp nutmeg. I'm wondering here if the nutmeg may be the culprit.

My supplementation regimen for many months has been:

Mag malate
Mag ascorbate
Ascorbic acid/Lysine/Proline mix
Spirulina/chlorella mix
NAC
Lipoic acid
Multi-V mix
Occaisional quercetin
Saw palmetto/nettle powder mix
Psyllium husk/licorice root/hawthorne berry/horse tail silica/fennugreek powder mix
Cod liver oil

This morn I have doubled up on the Vit C and dosed 2 tsp of DMSO. I really don't care for the idea of prednisone or ear injections but the hearing loss in my left ear is profound. If anyone has some suggestions or comments - I would love to hear them.

Thanks All,
LQB

 

[Hildegarda]

The only other thing I could think of is visiting a competent chiropractor. The chiropractic as a health modality began when D.D. Palmer, its founder, successfully treated a man who lost hearing just as suddenly as you are describing (the effect lasted for years), and it was successful. The fast that it often happens in the morning may suggest that it has something to do with the way people lay on their pillows, messing up their cervical spine adjustments. NUCCA technique (_http://www.nucca.org/), in particular, deals with precise adjustment of the first vertebra, which is supposed to work particularly well for all cranial issues.

Hope your health improves!

 

[LQB]

The only other thing I could think of is visiting a competent chiropractor. The chiropractic as a health modality began when D.D. Palmer, its founder, successfully treated a man who lost hearing just as suddenly as you are describing (the effect lasted for years), and it was successful. The fast that it often happens in the morning may suggest that it has something to do with the way people lay on their pillows, messing up their cervical spine adjustments. NUCCA technique (_http://www.nucca.org/), in particular, deals with precise adjustment of the first vertebra, which is supposed to work particularly well for all cranial issues.

Hope your health improves!

Thanks Hildegarda - I hadn't thought of the DC. There is a good one near that I go to.

What I have also found is that many folk get this condition. I've read a few accounts that sound just like mine. Sounds like about 30% spontaneously improve and more if the steroids are used. In any event, the recommendations favor getting in to see an ENT doc to establish whether or not it is the nerve, and if it is, work possible causes. I may make 2 appointments monday morning.

 

[mada85]

t-gone is a homeopathic treatment for tinnitus.

Also, I came across an interesting article: Natural Strategies for Preventing Hearing Loss which gives some nutritional/supplement recommendations for maintaining and restoring one's hearing.

The foundation rests on four substances, alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) and acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC), the two compounds that were the focus of my earliest research on hearing loss prevention and nutrients—and two other potent antioxidants, coenzyme Q10 and glutathione. In combination, these four compounds deliver state-of-the-art protection for the auditory system. An additional six other nutrients round out the program.

The complete Save Your Hearing Now Top Ten list:

1. ALA: A powerful and versatile antioxidant, ALA is capable of counteracting the type of free-radical damage that harms the auditory system. Recommended dosage: 100 to 750 mg per day
2. ALC: This compound is important for the proper functioning of the mitochondria, as well as supporting a healthy nervous system and brain, where much of the auditory system is located. Recommended dosage: 500 to 3,000 mg per day
3. Glutathione: A key element in preventing free-radical damage that can harm hearing, glutathione also minimizes the effects of various pollutants. Recommended dosage: 30 to 300 mg per day
4. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10): This vitally important antioxidant protects the mitochondria—and therefore hearing—and also plays a role in the production of cellular energy. Recommended dosage: 60 to 320 mg per day
5. Vitamin B complex: A family of nutrients that perform literally hundreds of tasks in the body, vitamin B has a special affinity for the nervous system and hearing. Recommended dosage: a balanced formula containing the entire family in appropriate amounts
6. Lecithin: This substance is essential for healthy cell membranes, and my own research has shown that it protects against age-related hearing loss. Recommended dosage: 200 to 1,500 mg per day
7. N-acetylcysteine (NAC): An amino acid known best for its ability to detoxify, NAC has also been shown to repair damaged hair cells of the inner ear. Recommended dosage: 100 to 2,500 mg per day
8. Quercetin: A bioflavonoid found in fruits and vegetables, quercetin has antioxidant properties that make it a powerful antidote to free-radical damage that can destroy hearing. Recommended dosage: 30 to 500 mg per day
9. Resveratrol: This compound, found in red wine, grape juice, and grapes, is considered a potent antiaging weapon and protects against damage from noise exposure. Recommended dosage: 40 to 1,000 mg per day
10. Zinc: The mineral zinc is an important antioxidant involved in hundreds of processes throughout the body, including support of the immune system. The highest concentrations of zinc are found in the inner ear and in the eye, and it is involved in hearing. Recommended dosage: 15 to 75 mg per day

For best absorption, these supplements should be taken with food and at least eight ounces of water. I recommend separating the daily dose you choose into two or three portions—whatever works best for you—so that your cells are nourished throughout the day.

Editor’s note: These nutritional recommendations are excerpted from Dr. Seidman’s program outlined in Save Your Hearing Now.

 

[LQB]

t-gone is a homeopathic treatment for tinnitus.

Also, I came across an interesting article: Natural Strategies for Preventing Hearing Loss which gives some nutritional/supplement recommendations for maintaining and restoring one's hearing.

The foundation rests on four substances, alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) and acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC), the two compounds that were the focus of my earliest research on hearing loss prevention and nutrients—and two other potent antioxidants, coenzyme Q10 and glutathione. In combination, these four compounds deliver state-of-the-art protection for the auditory system. An additional six other nutrients round out the program.

The complete Save Your Hearing Now Top Ten list:

1. ALA: A powerful and versatile antioxidant, ALA is capable of counteracting the type of free-radical damage that harms the auditory system. Recommended dosage: 100 to 750 mg per day
2. ALC: This compound is important for the proper functioning of the mitochondria, as well as supporting a healthy nervous system and brain, where much of the auditory system is located. Recommended dosage: 500 to 3,000 mg per day
3. Glutathione: A key element in preventing free-radical damage that can harm hearing, glutathione also minimizes the effects of various pollutants. Recommended dosage: 30 to 300 mg per day
4. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10): This vitally important antioxidant protects the mitochondria—and therefore hearing—and also plays a role in the production of cellular energy. Recommended dosage: 60 to 320 mg per day
5. Vitamin B complex: A family of nutrients that perform literally hundreds of tasks in the body, vitamin B has a special affinity for the nervous system and hearing. Recommended dosage: a balanced formula containing the entire family in appropriate amounts
6. Lecithin: This substance is essential for healthy cell membranes, and my own research has shown that it protects against age-related hearing loss. Recommended dosage: 200 to 1,500 mg per day
7. N-acetylcysteine (NAC): An amino acid known best for its ability to detoxify, NAC has also been shown to repair damaged hair cells of the inner ear. Recommended dosage: 100 to 2,500 mg per day
8. Quercetin: A bioflavonoid found in fruits and vegetables, quercetin has antioxidant properties that make it a powerful antidote to free-radical damage that can destroy hearing. Recommended dosage: 30 to 500 mg per day
9. Resveratrol: This compound, found in red wine, grape juice, and grapes, is considered a potent antiaging weapon and protects against damage from noise exposure. Recommended dosage: 40 to 1,000 mg per day
10. Zinc: The mineral zinc is an important antioxidant involved in hundreds of processes throughout the body, including support of the immune system. The highest concentrations of zinc are found in the inner ear and in the eye, and it is involved in hearing. Recommended dosage: 15 to 75 mg per day

For best absorption, these supplements should be taken with food and at least eight ounces of water. I recommend separating the daily dose you choose into two or three portions—whatever works best for you—so that your cells are nourished throughout the day.

Editor’s note: These nutritional recommendations are excerpted from Dr. Seidman’s program outlined in Save Your Hearing Now.

Thanks Endymion. Looks like I was covered on some of these in the list. I should give an update on the condition. Hearing was greatly improved this morn and now I can tell the direction of sounds. Quite a relief! Things are still a bit muffled in the left ear but definitely improving. I just got back from my DC (as suggested by Hildegarda), and he did some adjustments on my neck vertebrae aimed at improving blood flow to the left ear nerve. He also detected some TMJ-like condition that may be contributing. I do sometimes clench my teeth on a bridge subconsciously when tense (which seems often lately), so we discussed seeing a dentist to get it better adjusted. Yesterday I doubled up on the VC, Mg ascorbate, Mg malate, with more ALA and NAC plus sodium bicarb and Lugols Iodine (after reading Psyche's recent posts). From the research I've done on the net about idiopathic sudden hearing loss, significant recovery of hearing in 24 hrs is very rare - so maybe the supps before and after were a great help. I'm going to add some of the others in the list you posted shortly. And time to make a dentist appt. Anyway I'm well on the road to recovery.

Thanks again Hildegarda, for the DC suggestion - hearing is better already since the visit!

LQB

 

[3DStudent]

DMSO has been used to treat tinnitus too. See here:

The following appeared in a recent article in Alternatives regarding
tinnitus:

"Ask your doctor to review the following article, Annals of
the New York Academy of Sciences 75:243:468:74. 'In this
study,15 patients were suffering from tinnitus. Every four
days 2 milliliters of a medicated DMSO solution containing
anti-inflammatory and vasodilatory compounds were applied
locally to the external auditory canals of their ears. They
were also given an intramuscular injection of DMSO at the
same time.

'After one month, 9 of the 15 patients had a total cessation
of the tinnitus and it didn't return during the one year
observation period. It was diminished in two others and in
the remaining four it became only an occasional problem
instead of permanent (cold temperatures seemed to be the
main factor causing it to return).

'In addition, all of the five patients that were suffering
from vertigo noted significant improvement...'

I've put a 75% solution on and in my ears once a few days ago. But I found it to be extremely itchy. I couldn't resist scratching it. I think it might be best to go with a 50% or 25% solution even.

 

[Gaby]

I've put a 75% solution on and in my ears once a few days ago. But I found it to be extremely itchy. I couldn't resist scratching it. I think it might be best to go with a 50% or 25% solution even.

Yeah, I would use a 25% solution.

 

[LQB]

I've put a 75% solution on and in my ears once a few days ago. But I found it to be extremely itchy. I couldn't resist scratching it. I think it might be best to go with a 50% or 25% solution even.

Yeah, I would use a 25% solution.

Might be good to keep in mind for the next time - but I sure hope there won't be one - for anybody.

 

[Mikey]

Re: Sudden Sensorineural hearing loss - Suggestions?

About 4 hours ago I had a typical episode of Sensorineural Hearing Loss. Symptoms:

- sudden reduction in hearing ability in one ear
- noise/tinnitus in the same ear
- a feeling as if a ball of cotton had been inserted into the ear
- numbness around the ear

In my case I lost an estimated one third of hearing capability in my left ear from one second to the next. At the same time a kind of white noise tinnitus appeared. I had trouble distinguising directions of sounds, or people speaking. I was intuitively thinking of a blood circulation problem (or a blood clot) since I had been sitting still on my desk for several hours. I went outside to walk around, without much improvement.

The symptoms didn't go away for about 1 hour, so I got a bit worried. I was positive that it was NOT a ball of wax moving in my ear, because I had that before and this was totally different. I finally put two teaspoons of DMSO in a glass of water and rested, sipping my diluted DMSO, and the white noise tinnitus slowly went away over the course of 1 hour. As the noise faded, my usual hearing came back. So I'm luckily back to 100% of what was before.

Maybe the DMSO did not do anything because spontaneous healings are reported for most cases, but maybe it did help.

It turns out it is a very common occurence, but nobody knows what it is or how to treat it. That is why it is often also called Idiopathic Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensorineural_hearing_loss

Did anyone else ever suffer such an episode? How is your hearing, LQB?

It was definitely an unnerving experience.

Added: I did not change anything in my diet or habits for many months, so it was "out of the blue".

 

[Gawan]

That sounds horrible and I'm glad everything went back to normal again, Data. As you wrote it is worth keeping in mind that DMSO could be of help in such cases. Unfortunately I cannot add anything else, since I never experienced something like that.

And to clarify you drank the diluted DMSO and put nothing into the ear?

 

[pete02]

This does sound like quite the unnerving experience to say the least. Sometimes I'll have one ear get muffled all of a sudden but then clear up seconds later so nothing like what you guys are describing. Being that there is no info available on this particular problem perhaps this should go on the list for questions for the C's? Anyhow it's good to know your back to normal Data and I'm also curious how LQB made out.

 

[Gaby]

I'm glad you recovered your hearing, Data. It is good to keep DMSO in mind.

I never had that happened before to me, although I remember a man in his 50s having it at the ER. I was baffled, so I called the ORL specialist who admitted the man to the hospital for high doses of cortisone IV. I think that DMSO is a better anti-inflammatory option. Hope everyone has some in stock just in case.

 

[LQB]

Re: Sudden Sensorineural hearing loss - Suggestions?

Did anyone else ever suffer such an episode? How is your hearing, LQB?

It was definitely an unnerving experience.

Added: I did not change anything in my diet or habits for many months, so it was "out of the blue".

It sure is unnerving Data! My hearing in the right went out almost entirely - everything sounded like it was coming from the left. It gradually came back - like you - but it took a while. I don't think anything I did at the time had any effect.

In my case, I woke up one morn with no hearing in the right. I've had no recurrence of that magnitude but I have had shades of it sometimes if I stand up quickly after sitting for a while. For this reason, I tend to think that a low blood pressure event is involved.

added: the above should be left ear - just reviewed my opening post.

 

[Meg]

That's a pretty scary experience, Data. I am glad your hearing is back to normal.

I wonder if it's a side effect of the iodine therapy/protocol killing off some critters?

What is the cause of sudden SNHL?

By definition the exact cause of sudden SNHL is idiopathic (literally unknown cause ). Current research is underway to determine the cause of sudden hearing loss and therefore potential cures. Some of the proposed cause are listed below. The most commonly proposed causes of sudden SNHL include viral infection of the inner ear, blood flow abnormalities to the inner ear, and problems with the fluid mechanics of the inner ear which leads to tears in the fine membranes of the cochlea.

Viral Infection

Perhaps the most common theory to explain sudden hearing loss is a viral infection. Evidence of viral infections have been found by researchers in patients who have had sudden SNHL, leading to this being proposed cause. A viral infection can cause inflammation of the inner ear or auditory nerve. This inflammation of the inner ear structure and associated blood vessels can cause hearing loss. No pain, fever, muscle cramps or other signs of a viral illness are usually encountered. Occasionally, signs of an upper respiratory infection may precede the onset of sudden SNHL.

They also list other potential causes of sudden SNHL with examples. I've attached a screengrab of the chart.

https://www.vanderbilthealth.com/billwilkerson/27939

 

[Alana]

Re: Sudden Sensorineural hearing loss - Suggestions?

Did anyone else ever suffer such an episode? How is your hearing, LQB?

It was definitely an unnerving experience.

It does sound like an unnerving experience and I am so glad it went back to normal! We can't know if the DMSO made the difference, but it sounds like a good "just in case" idea in this situation. Some articles I just read through about it mention that the most popular treatment is the use of corticosteroids, either through oral administration or injection in the ear.

I only ever had what Pete describes

This does sound like quite the unnerving experience to say the least. Sometimes I'll have one ear get muffled all of a sudden but then clear up seconds later so nothing like what you guys are describing.

I don't know why it happens, it just comes and goes like that. In my case, there's also something like a faint ringing/white noise when it happens, but it only lasts some seconds or a couple of minutes tops, so it doesn't worry me and I never investigated it.