Will hearing loss continue

[Ray163]

I have been able to hear over the phone until yesterday.  I have never been told what my diagnosis is just what it is not.  I get a hearing aid on Monday and hope it helps because the phone was my only source of connection.  I am now afraid to drive..  Will it just totally go away?
Thanks,
Ray

[BoozeBaron]

I'm in the middle of (hopefully) recovering from SSNHL - Was/is the scariest thing I've ever been thru (age 45 male) -

Went to bed 'fine', woke up 100% deaf in my left ear - Went straight to an ENT specialist (the long named one) within the 'golden hours' - and got straight on Prednisone - within 2 weeks, had 50% of my hearing back, now, 3 months later, have about 95% back - but the ringing and 'whooshing' is never-ending 24x7....

Anyway - Reason I'm posting is, I see this on EVERY SSNHL forum - yet I cannot find an answer -

Someone above said: "Viral infection is usually blamed [for SSNHL] if there isn't another obvious cause"

This is 100% true, my ENT, whilst 'good', didn't and doesn't have a clue what caused my SSNHL either - *I* thought it was due to a blockage in one of the veins/arteries behind the ear (e.g. TIA stroke) as my cholesterol is off the charts high - But after the steroid treatment - many of my 'other' symptoms went away too... was a wild ride - but that just nukes your immune system...

Point is, my ENT thinks it was a "virus" and now I happen to agree, for 3 months later, despite my hearing being back, I'm just sick as a dog... not flu/fever sick, just like I have a 'virus' (bug) - So, for the 1st time in my life, I started researching viruses, just to discover there really aren't all that many (like 21 or something) and of course there's nothing you can do about them (to kill them) -

So my question is, for all you that have suffered from "viral" SSNHL, has ANYone every told you 'what' kind of virus did the deed?? Man, I'm researching everything from HIV to HEP to Mono to tropical stuff that I may have picked up when I was travelling - I am LOW RISK (very!!) so this baffles me even more... I did have a few run-ins with some nasty insects in Polynesia and NZ - but that was like 6 years ago... It's possible they've been laying dormant, 'til the Prednisone came in and weakened my immune system - and now it's sprung up?

I really dunno...

Either way - the ones I mention (less Hep/HIV) "go away" in a few weeks, yet here I am going on 4 months... No high fever - Vitals are good - Heading back to my GP in 7 days to get my CBC results... I'd just like some thoughts about what kind of 'virus' I should be looking at here?

Anyone?

Thanks in advance -

Cheers -

B

[Ray163]

I am sorry I did see an ENT he just told me what  don't have after MRI,stroke or tumor.
Saw him 1 time tried predinsone(stepped down for 25 days).made no difference.  Had 2 audiology test,  next thing I knew I was being referred for a hearing aid.  Had a 3rd audiology test and I am now waiting for the hearing aid,  which I hope still works because as of last Thursday I could still hear  over the phone  and hear myself talk and I cannot now.Last week I could   hear out of my left over the phone and TV with a headset, this week I hear barely the TV out of my left with the headset and better out of my right ear.  Well hope it works.
R

[Nancy T]

I completely agree with W/a/J about sudden hearing loss being an EMERGENCY. If you noticed a sudden change in your hearing, see an ear specialist YESTERDAY. (Do not let a PCP tell you it's just "fluid" or something like that, unless they can prove it with a hearing test.)

Nancy T.

[Wear/a/Jimmy]

Are u saying u had a Sudden Hearing Loss, and are getting a hearing aid rather than consulting an ENT first.  If that is the case, and the person that is selling you the hearing aid is aware of this....  that person that is selling you a hearing aid is committing a crime!

Regardless, you need to see an ENT imidiatley!!!!  And I am not kidding!!  Google SUDDEN SENSORY NEURAL HEARING LOSS  and go see an ENT pronto