Sudden Hearing Loss: What To Do Straight Away
If your hearing drops suddenly, especially in one ear, treat it as urgent. It is one of the few ear problems where waiting to see what happens can cost you hearing permanently. This article explains what to do first, who to contact, and why the first few days matter so much.
Call 999 if you also have any of these
Sudden hearing loss alongside any of the following can be a sign of a stroke, so it needs emergency care rather than an ear appointment:
- Weakness or drooping on one side of the face
- Slurred speech, confusion, or difficulty finding words
- Weakness or numbness in an arm or leg
- Severe dizziness where you cannot stand or walk
- A recent significant blow to the head
If any of those apply, call 999 straight away.
If it is hearing loss on its own, contact your GP or NHS 111 today
Where the hearing loss is not accompanied by the symptoms above, it still needs to be seen quickly. Contact your GP surgery and explain that your hearing has dropped suddenly, or call NHS 111 if the surgery is closed. Ask for an urgent appointment. Say clearly that the loss came on suddenly, because that changes how quickly you will be seen.
You should do this even if your hearing feels like it is improving, and even if the ear is not painful.
Why the first few days matter
Sudden hearing loss in one ear is sometimes caused by a problem in the inner ear or the hearing nerve. Doctors call this sudden sensorineural hearing loss. When that is the cause, treatment usually involves steroids, and the evidence suggests that the sooner treatment starts, the better the chances of recovery. That is why it is considered an emergency in the same way a sudden change in vision would be.
Treatment for this is prescribed by a doctor, normally after referral to an ENT department. An audiologist cannot prescribe it, which is why your first call needs to be to your GP or 111 rather than to a hearing clinic.
The more common explanation
Not every sudden change in hearing is serious. A build-up of ear wax pressing against the eardrum can block hearing quite suddenly, particularly after showering or after using cotton buds. So can a heavy cold, an ear infection, or fluid behind the eardrum after a virus.
The difficulty is that you cannot tell the difference from the outside, and neither can we without looking. Wax can be seen with an otoscope in seconds. A problem in the inner ear cannot, and it needs a hearing test to identify.
Where we fit in
If a doctor has seen you and ruled out anything that needs urgent medical treatment, or if you have been told the likely cause is wax, we can help at any of our three South Wales clinics.
We can look in the ear and tell you whether wax is the cause, remove it by microsuction the same day where appointments allow, and carry out a full hearing test to measure exactly what has changed and in which ear. If the test points to something that needs medical attention, we will tell you and explain what to ask for.
What we cannot do is prescribe the medication used to treat sudden inner ear hearing loss, or bypass the NHS referral route into ENT. If you have not yet spoken to a doctor and your hearing has dropped suddenly, please do that first.
What you can do while you wait
- Do not put cotton buds or anything else in the ear
- Do not use ear drops unless a pharmacist or doctor has recommended them for your situation
- Make a note of when the hearing changed, which ear, and anything that came with it, such as ringing, dizziness or a feeling of fullness
- Avoid loud noise in the meantime
That note is genuinely useful. The timing of when the loss started is one of the first things you will be asked.
Frequently asked questions
Is sudden hearing loss an emergency?
Sudden hearing loss in one ear should be treated as urgent and seen within a day or two. Combined with facial weakness, slurred speech or severe dizziness, it is a 999 emergency.
Can ear wax cause sudden hearing loss?
Yes. Wax pressing against the eardrum can block hearing quite suddenly, and it is a common cause. It cannot be assumed to be the cause without someone looking in the ear.
How quickly should sudden hearing loss be treated?
Where the cause is in the inner ear, treatment works best when it starts as soon as possible after the hearing changes. This is why it needs a same-day or next-day appointment rather than waiting a week.
Should I go to my GP or an audiologist first?
Your GP or NHS 111 first, if the loss came on suddenly. Treatment for inner ear hearing loss is prescribed by a doctor. An audiologist is the right place once medical causes have been ruled out, or where wax is the likely cause.
Will my hearing come back?
It depends entirely on the cause. Hearing blocked by wax returns as soon as the wax is removed. Recovery from inner ear hearing loss varies from person to person, which is part of why getting seen quickly matters.
Can you see me the same day?
We often have same-day appointments at our Cardiff and Bridgend clinics. Call 029 2240 1110 or message us on WhatsApp on 07782 491061. If your hearing dropped suddenly and you have not yet spoken to a doctor, please contact your GP or NHS 111 first.
If you would like to arrange an appointment, you can contact us here.
Concerned about a change in your hearing?
Our audiologists at Cardiff, Bridgend and Newport can check for wax and test your hearing, often at short notice.