Deafness is not uncommon in our lives. When we talk about deafness, we think that it is synonymous with the elderly, not young people. With the rapid development of modern society, the rhythm of work and life is accelerated, various pressures increase, coupled with the influence of bad living habits such as staying up late, sudden deafness comes quietly when people are unprepared, and the younger the trend is more and more increasingly obvious.
Sudden deafness is on the rise and is often overlooked
Sudden hearing loss is sensorineural hearing loss of unknown cause that occurs suddenly within 72 hours. Dr. Hou Zhiqiang from the Tinnitus Disease Department of Shandong Otolaryngology Hospital said that the hearing loss of sudden deafness can occur in an instant, within a few hours or within 3 days, and there is also sudden deafness when you wake up in the morning. Usually the onset is rapid, in addition to hearing loss of varying degrees, it is often accompanied by tinnitus, dizziness, ear fullness, etc. Mental stress, mood swings, irregular life, overwork, stress, anxiety, sleep disorders, etc. are common precipitating factors.
The etiology and pathogenesis of sudden hearing loss are still unclear. There are two main hypotheses. One refers to the hearing loss caused by vascular disease, that is, the blood supply disorder of the inner ear, and the other refers to the virus Infection, the cochlea and auditory nerve damage caused by viral infection cause hearing loss. At present, it is generally believed that inner ear microcirculation disturbance is the most common cause of sudden hearing loss. Some acoustic neuromas will also manifest as sudden deafness, which needs to be identified.
Sudden deafness requires prompt medical attention
The treatment time window for sudden hearing loss is particularly important. Once sudden hearing loss occurs, rescue treatment must be carried out. The earlier the treatment, the higher the cure rate. Generally speaking, the cure rate is the highest if the treatment is done within 1 week, and good results can be achieved within two weeks. Some patients who do not recover well after treatment can choose to wear hearing aids or cochlear implants and other hearing aids according to the degree of hearing loss. to improve hearing. Permanent deafness may result if left untreated for more than three months.
After the first treatment of sudden deafness is cured, it does not mean that the pathogenic factors have been eliminated, and there is a certain recurrence. Diabetes, hypertension, metabolic disorders, and excessive alcohol and tobacco may all be important pathogenic factors. It is worth emphasizing that relapsed patients tend to have more severe symptoms than the first episode, with increased difficulty in treatment and increased recovery time.
Director Hou Zhiqiang warmly reminds: If you suddenly experience symptoms such as tinnitus, dizziness, nausea, and ear fullness, you should go to the hospital in time to avoid delaying treatment.
