Understanding Sudden Hearing Loss

The ear has two major functions in the body. One function is for hearing and the other one is for balance. These two functions are due to the vestibulochoclear nerve that is innervating in the inner ear. Hearing impairments like sudden hearing loss can be caused by different factors. Sudden hearing loss is the loss of hearing in a rapid pace or in a short period of time. A hearing loss is considered sudden if it rapidly happens within three days or less.

The ear is composed of the outer ear which is also called a pinna. It is composed of cartilages covered with skin. It is attached to the temporal bone at the level of the eye. The external ear canal has cerumen or wax-like substance that protects the middle ear from external factors like invading microorganisms. The sound that goes inside the ear first travels through the external canal, then through the tympanic membrane of the middle ear. In the middle ear, the sound goes through the malleus, incus and stapes – the three bony ossicles of the middle ear. This is also the place where the Eustachian tube is located. The Eustachian tube drains the secretion of the middle ear and it is connected to the nose of a person. After passing the ossicles, the sound then goes through the round and oval window which separates the middle and the inner ear. In the inner ear, the sound vibrations are converted into a nerve impulse by the cochlea. This nerve impulse is then sent to the brain for interpretation.

Most hearing loss is attributed to two events. It is either sensorineural or conductive hearing loss. But for profound hearing loss it is sometimes termed as a mixed conductive-sensorineural. In sensorineural, it is said that the cause of the hearing loss is the inability of the cranial nerve to transmit the nerve impulses converted by the cochlea. Sometimes, the problem is in the cochlea itself, when it can’t convert the sound vibrations into nerve impulses. On the other hand, conductive hearing loss happens when there is a problem in conducting the sound waves from one part of the ear to another. An example of this is the hardening of the ear drum or tympanic membrane. It could not transmit the sound waves from the outer ear into the middle ear because its normal elasticity is lost. Other malfunction and malformation of any part of the outer and middle ear can cause conductive hearing loss. A combination of the two types of hearing loss is a very serious disease and management might be difficult.

Sudden hearing loss could be senrorineural or conductive. Whatever the case may be, it is important to contact a doctor for examination of such disease. This should be done so that immediate management is done and thus, preventing further damage.