total hearing loss in 3 days

[pt613]

my mother is 77 years old and has just been diagnosed with small intestine cancer with enlarged lymphnodes  in abdomen  they were doing tests in hospital because she wasn't feel well and they discovered the cancer--however 3 days after she was discharged from hospital is went totally deaf----Brain scan shows nothing---ENT can't find any reason-- oncologist says it's not related to cancer----what could cause total hearing loss in 3 days ??? she is also  very unsteady on her feet.  we need help no one has any suggestions

[Wear/a/Jimmy]

@ 77 years old, there are all kinds of things that could go wrong, coupled with her medical history...

As nancy mentioned, you should seek assistance from a MD specializing in this area, and one that employs an audiologist, because she would need some diagnostic testing by some qualified people.

At this point in time, it will be difficult to discover where the hearing loss lays, chochlea, or within (brain because of her age).  But you do need to find out at what levels she can hear (if at all) because really with her recent medical history, age etc. being deafened at this point in time would be phsychologically devastating.

[Nancy T]

90 percent of the time they can't definitely say what caused a sudden hearing loss.

She didn't have IV antibiotics in the hospital, did she?

If you've seen an ENT who specializes in ears (otologist or neuro-otologist) there may not be much else you can do. However, for balance problems, if this doesn't improve she could ask to be referred to a vestibular therapist (physical therapist specializing in balance/dizziness problems).

Good luck to her.
Nancy T.