Sudden hearing loss from a hyperbaric oxygen session — sharing my story as a warning
I want to share what happened to me because I’ve seen a lot of people in this community consider or try HBOT, and I think there’s a real risk that isn’t talked about enough.
In April 2026, the day after breast surgery, I went to a hyperbaric oxygen clinic for a routine session, something I’d done before without any issues. There was no health screening, no questions about recent surgery or anaesthesia, and no active guidance beyond “swallow normally.” The consent form only mentioned general “ear barotrauma” as a risk, nothing about sensorineural hearing loss specifically.
The session itself felt completely normal. No pain, no pressure, no difficulty equalizing. About 40 minutes after leaving the chamber, my right ear felt very different. My first audiogram showed severe to profound loss
I was diagnosed with sudden sensorineural hearing loss and started aggressive treatment immediately: oral prednisone, nine intratympanic steroid injections, and eventually a course of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. Nearly five months later, I’ve made substantial recovery, though I’m still not sure if I’ll get back to 100%.
What I want people to know:
Inner ear barotrauma from HBOT is a real, documented risk, even though it’s rare and rarely discussed. It can happen with no pain and no warning signs during the session itself, because the cochlea doesn’t have the same pain feedback as the middle ear.
If you’re considering HBOT, ask the clinic directly what screening they do, whether they ask about recent surgery, illness, or medications, and what their specific consent process covers regarding hearing risk. If they can’t answer clearly, that’s a red flag.
This wasn’t something I did anything wrong to cause. It happened during a routine, previously uneventful treatment, at a clinic with essentially no safety protocols in place. I’m sharing this so that if it happens to you, you know it’s real, you’re not alone, and early aggressive treatment gives you the best chance at recovery.
Before this session I had totally normal hearing, no hearing issues, no hearing loss. Since the session I’ve had hearing loss, intense dysacusis and on/off tinnitus.