Hearing · 4 min read · 20/10/2026
Sudden hearing loss: why the first 72 hours matter
By Mr Rohan Vithlani, consultant ENT surgeon.
Most hearing loss creeps up slowly. When it arrives over a few hours or days, usually in one ear and sometimes with a blocked feeling or ringing, it needs to be treated as an emergency. This guide explains why, and what to do.
What sudden hearing loss is
A loss of inner-ear (sensorineural) hearing of at least 30 decibels over three frequencies within 72 hours. It is often mistaken for wax or a cold, which is why it is so often treated late.
Why the clock matters
The inner ear does not repair itself, and the treatment that gives the best chance of recovery — a course of steroid tablets or an injection through the ear drum — works best in the first days.
What happens at the clinic
A hearing test confirms the pattern, the ear is examined to rule out wax or fluid, and treatment starts the same day. An MRI is usually arranged to look at the hearing nerve.
What recovery looks like
Many people recover some or all of their hearing over the following weeks. Those who do not are offered hearing support and, where appropriate, a bone-conduction or cochlear implant assessment.
Key point
A muffled ear that appeared overnight is not a wax problem until a doctor has looked. Call the same day.
What to do today
- Call the clinic or NHS 111 the same day; do not wait for a routine appointment
- Note when the hearing changed and whether there is ringing, dizziness or pain
- Bring any previous hearing tests with you
General information, not individual medical advice. STARFISH, the UK trial of sudden hearing-loss treatment, is led in Southampton by Mr Vithlani.
Consultant ENT Surgeon · Otology, hearing implants & children’s ENT · GMC [number]
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