COL Nancy Vause
Sudden hearing loss (SHL) is a medical emergency defined as sensorineural hearing loss of 30 dB over less than three days affecting three contiguous frequencies. Worldwide, 15,000 cases/year are reported with 4,000 in the US. One in every 15,000 people will suffer this condition with only 2% presenting with bilateral symptoms. In most cases (85-90%) it is of unknown etiology (idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss—ISSHL). Accounting for ~ 1% of all sensorineural hearing loss, the most credited hypotheses for origin are: viral, immunitary and vascular. The authors will present 3 ISSHL case studies among two area audiology families over two months. The paper will present a review of possible etiologies, recommended BAMC differential diagnosis, audiometric, laboratory and radiological diagnostic results, medical management and outcomes of these three patients. Additionally, primary care providers misdiagnosed the ISSHL as serous otitis media in two of the patients presenting with an upper respiratory infection (present in ~30% of the ISSHL cases). These two patients only received specialty ENT care and immediate treatment as a result of their Audiology and ENT clinic connections indicating an immediate need for continuing education of ISSHL among emergency room and troop medical clinic health care providers. Read more…