ear, nose, and throat disorders
Sudden Hearing Loss
Evaluation of Sudden Hearing Loss
The following information can help people decide when a doctor's evaluation is needed and help them know what to expect during the evaluation. Sudden hearing loss is itself a warning sign. Anyone with sudden hearing loss should see a doctor right away because some causes must be treated quickly. If symptoms of dysfunction of the nervous system other than hearing loss are present, hearing loss may be a symptom of nerve or brain dysfunction. Doctors first ask questions about the person's symptoms and medical history. Doctors then do a physical examination. What they find during the history and physical examination may suggest a cause of the sudden hearing loss and the tests that may need to be done. Doctors note whether hearing loss affects one or both ears and whether a specific event such as Overview of Head Injuries , The physical examination focuses on the ears and hearing and on examination of the nervous system. Typically, people should have an audiogram (a Testing ). Unless doctors think the problem is clearly an acute infection or drug toxicity, they usually also do gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT), particularly when the hearing loss is greater in one ear. Other tests are done based on the likely cause. For example, people who had a head injury should have MRI. People at risk of sexually transmitted infections should have blood tests for HIV infection and syphilis. 