Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Q If I receive treatment diligently for sudden hearing loss, can I hear exactly as before?

A. With prompt treatment and favorable recovery factors, full recovery is possible, but statistically this applies to about one-third of cases. Even when full recovery is difficult, reducing tinnitus, easing the blocked sensation, and protecting the remaining hearing are realistic and meaningful goals.

Q Tinnitus came along with my sudden hearing loss. If the hearing loss heals, will the tinnitus naturally get better too?

A. Tinnitus often decreases as hearing recovers, but there are also cases where hearing partly returns while only the tinnitus remains. It is best to actively manage the tinnitus as well.

Q Dizziness came along with my sudden hearing loss. Does accompanying dizziness mean a worse prognosis?

A. Yes. Sudden hearing loss accompanied by dizziness may involve more extensive inner-ear damage and can carry a worse prognosis. However, dizziness often settles within days to weeks, while hearing and tinnitus need separate, ongoing management.

Q When sudden hearing loss occurs, are there things I should do right away at home and things I must not do?

A. Getting emergency ENT care immediately is the top priority. Until then, rest, and avoid earphones, noisy environments, vigorous exercise, and alcohol. It is important to lower stress and drink plenty of water.

Q While I am in treatment, what daily habits help my recovery?

A. Regular sleep, a low-salt diet, adequate water intake, and stress management are key. Activities that aid circulation, such as light walks, are helpful, but noisy environments and strenuous exercise should be avoided.

Q One ear suddenly cannot hear. Can I just wait, or should I go to the hospital right away?

A. You must get emergency ENT care immediately. For sudden hearing loss, the first 72 hours are the golden window, and the chance of recovery drops sharply as time passes. Never put it off by deciding to watch it for a few days.

Q I was prescribed steroids and vasodilators. Is it okay to take herbal medicine at the same time?

A. If you let us know during your visit which conventional medicines you are taking, we adjust the herbal prescription accordingly. Generally, herbal and conventional medicines are taken one to two hours apart, and during the steroid course we choose formulas that place little burden on digestion.

Q It has been two weeks since my sudden hearing loss began. Is there still a chance of recovery if I start treatment now?

A. The first 72 hours are the golden window, but if it has been within two weeks, treatment is still worthwhile. The degree of recovery tends to shrink the later you start, so it is important to begin treatment now, together with ENT care, to support recovery.

Q How much recovery happens with sudden hearing loss? Can hearing fully return?

A. It is known that about one-third recover fully, one-third partially, and one-third see almost no return of hearing. Prompt treatment, mild initial loss, and the absence of dizziness are associated with a relatively better prognosis.

Q My hearing was completely fine until yesterday, but now one ear can barely hear anything and feels blocked. Why does this happen?

A. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is an emergency in which hearing drops by 30 dB or more within 72 hours. It occurs when a viral infection, an inner-ear vascular disturbance, or an autoimmune reaction damages the hair cells of the cochlea. Emergency ENT care is essential the moment symptoms appear.

Q Do people who develop sudden hearing loss share common traits? I have been extremely exhausted lately.

A. Overwork, lack of sleep, and severe stress are typical triggering backgrounds. It tends to occur right after a viral infection, during periods of weakened immunity, or when blood viscosity is high. If your hearing suddenly drops during a period of accumulated fatigue, visit an ENT specialist immediately.

Q I heard that blood becomes thicker after sudden hearing loss. Are there foods I should be careful about?

A. Salty foods, greasy foods high in saturated fat, and excessive caffeine or alcohol raise blood viscosity, worsening inner-ear microcirculation and hindering recovery. Oily fish, vegetables, and adequate water intake are helpful.

Q I am recovering, but I have to be in a noisy environment. Does noise affect recovery?

A. Yes. Exposure to loud noise during recovery puts additional stress on the damaged hair cells and can delay recovery. We recommend wearing noise-blocking earplugs and avoiding concert venues, construction sites, and high-volume earphone use.

Q I am looking for sudden hearing loss treatment near Dongincheon in Incheon. What happens on a first visit to a Korean medicine clinic?

A. We recommend first getting emergency ENT care and a hearing test, then visiting the Korean medicine clinic. At the first consultation, we assess the time of onset, the course of symptoms, and the status of conventional treatment, then determine the degree of Kidney deficiency and blood stasis to build a recovery-support plan.

Q What stages does Korean medicine treatment for sudden hearing loss go through?

A. Dongjedang takes a three-stage approach: clearing heat from the head (cheongsang), activating blood to restore inner-ear flow (hwalhyeol-hwaeo), and tonifying the Kidney to replenish deficiency (boshin). After conventional emergency care, during the recovery stage, acupuncture and herbal medicine improve the inner-ear environment and support auditory-nerve recovery.

Q What should I prepare for my first Korean medicine clinic visit to get more accurate treatment?

A. Bringing the hearing-test report from the ENT clinic, the names of your prescribed medicines, and the date of onset and its course makes pattern identification and the treatment plan more precise. Also note in advance whether you have tinnitus and whether dizziness is present.

Q I am receiving steroid injections at the hospital. Would also receiving Korean medicine treatment help my recovery?

A. Emergency steroid treatment takes top priority. Korean medicine can be combined after the steroids have controlled the inflammation, working to restore inner-ear blood flow and replenish Kidney deficiency to improve the recovery rate. It can be especially helpful when the response to steroids is incomplete.

Q Even after steroids, only about half of my hearing came back. Is there no chance it will improve any further?

A. Even after partial recovery, additional improvement can occur over several months. Rather than giving up, it is meaningful to continue treatment that restores inner-ear circulation and supports nerve recovery. That said, the degree of change tends to diminish after about six months.