Just got back from the ER
Diagnosed as SSNHL. Five hours ago I was walking in the grocery store when the volume on my right ear went down by about 60%.
My wife, who’s a speech therapist and took audiology courses, insisted I go to the ER. When I got there hearing loss was about 80%. By the time I saw the doctor it was 98-100%. Her microscope instrument made zero sound in my ear.
I took the first 60mg of prednisone around 3 1/2 hours after the grocery store incident.
That was about an hour and a half ago. No improvement yet. And I’m prepared if I see little to no improvement in the future. I see the ENT on Monday.
It’s all very surreal. Reading the posts on this subreddit has been a big help.
Update - 28 hours later.
Firstly, thank you all for the support and excellent information. It makes a big difference to learn from others’ experiences and for others to acknowledge the experience I’m having.
Some hearing appears to have returned.
24 hours ago, I could rub my pinky finger in my ear hole and make zero sound… late last night. I noticed I could sense/hear something when tapping that little bump outside the outer ear. This morning, tapping the ridge immediately above the outer ear also made some sound. Around 11AM. I tried putting in an AirPod. I tested my left ear first at medium volume on a history podcast. I switched to try just my right ear and could hear faint scratchy sound corresponding with the chatter on the podcast.
20 minutes ago (around 4 PM) I tried again and could make out roughly 50 to 70% of what was being said - it sounded distant, faint and muffled, but I could just about follow along. Also, at times there was a strange electricity sound accompanying the dialogue, like a metallic buzz sound that was maybe a bit higher pitched than the voices and sort of irritating. This sort of concerned me so I didn’t listen for more than 10 or 15 seconds. But overall, very encouraging I think.
My first prednisone (60 mg) was at 4PM yesterday in the hospital. I filled the prescription and had my second dose at 9AM. I don’t think I’ve noticed many symptoms other than dry mouth and pretty frequent urination.
Thank you all again.
Update 2 (52 hours later)
Continued improvement today, Monday.
Audiogram this morning shows near normal until 2000hz. 3k - 8hz drops to severe / 70-80db.
88% speech recognition which is truly unbelievable compared to Saturday.
This afternoon I had my first HBOT session at 2 atmospheres. Tomorrow and go-forward is 2.5 atmospheres. Daily sessions are one hour.
Seeing ENT in the AM for needle steroid.
Advice to others in the first few hours: go to the ER. And as soon as the Dr leans towards SSNHL, demand your first dose of prednisone. I believe my positive outcome so far is due to quick access to the drug. Patience and positivity - control what you can control, get all the help you’re entitled to.