Sudden Deafness Episodes for a Few Seconds?!

Lately I've noticed that my right ear will suddenly have a low 'thud' noise before going completely deaf almost for a few seconds then returning to what I believe is normal? It's different from my fleeting tinnitus that I sometimes get. It's almost as if someone flicked off a switch and shutdown my ear for a few seconds. I already have hearing loss so I can't really gauge if my current level of hearing is "normal" or not...



I heard that this is a real medical emergency known as sudden sensorineural hearing loss, but I can still hear out of my ear. This usually happens when I'm laying down on my bed with my laptop, or just sitting on a chair watching something on my electronic devices.

My parents say it's because I use my eyes too much and because I don't exercise enough...

Maybe the position I lay/sit in is affecting my blood circulation to my ear or something?

I'm not sure if I should visit an ENT/audiologist or not because I'm scared the tests they'll do may damage my ears further.

 

Check out
https://www.masseyeandear.org/for-p...ation/diseases-and-conditions/sudden-deafness

 

Thanks Bill! I think I'll definitely go get it checked out... my ears are just having a plethora of problems lately.

 

My left ear has a habit of suddenly going fully quiet to the sound of a loud screech, it usually returns within a few seconds. I almost guarantee you the ENT or audiologist will tell you there's nothing to worry about and that it happens to them as well, but better to be safe than sorry.

 

My ear has actually been doing something similar as well so now im wondering if i should get it tested. I thought it was fleeting tinnitus i couldnt hear.

 

I have something similar. A moment of deafness and vertigo, after which tinnitus and hearing resumes normally. I can't really decide whether this is a different thing than fleeting tinnitus, or is just a fleeting tinnitus that's not audible. I noticed that this sometimes signals a change in tinnitus - for example when a loud but non-damaging noise has temporarily excited it, I usually get this weird deaf moment when the T returns to the baseline. I've had episodes of this for many years and no adverse effects. In fact I associate pleasant feelings to it because it often signals a reduction in T.

 

This happens to me usually when I have a cold or allergies. If your hearing returns after a few seconds, it’s not a medical emergency. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss occurs when you suddenly lose at least three consecutive hearing frequencies and they do not return. Unfortunately I have experience with this.

 

I was lying in bed this evening and had a sudden deaf incident in my right ear. It was oddly not unpleasant, if that makes sense. It only lasted for about 15 seconds.

 

this happens to me. I feel it is either ETD or something to do with the muscle in the ear spasming.

 

My ear spasmed when it went deaf the other night for a few seconds. I put it down to possible TMJ because my jaw and neck were hurting a little.

 

I also have TMJ I really need to get a mouth guard.

 

Sorry to hear that, Tinker Bell. May the bimodal stuff and FX-322 relieve and then cure you ASAP.

How does SSHL feel from the "inside"? I recently spent a whole day freaking out that I have SSHL and analyzing my hearing in every possible way. It was just an anxiety attack but I would like to be prepared if the real thing ever comes. Is it obvious right away, or is it a slower process that creeps on you?

 

I need to as well just havent gotten around to going to the dentist to get it checked or fitted for one.

 

For me, it was immediately obvious. There was no doubt. I was working on my computer in my quiet home, and one moment I could fully hear in both ears and the next I could only hear with one ear and had loud tinnitus in the other ear.

 

I just had another episode of sudden deafness happen today right when I rested my hand under my jaw lol. Maybe TMJ really is causing some of these problems.

 

Yes I do, sometimes. Not the thud though. It does seem different to fleeting tinninus. I also think it's something to do with the middle ear muscles and bones kind of 'disengaging' so to speak from what they're meant to do i.e. conduct sound to the cochlea. Could be a number of things triggering it. It's pretty unsettling to suddenly go deaf in one ear with just ringing.

 

I am experiencing something similar to what you were describing in your OP.

Frequency is like 3-7x per day.
Did you figure anything out?

Best