Sudden Hearing Loss and Dizziness Can Lead to Irreversible Results If Not Treated!

Stating that sudden hearing loss and dizziness are emergent and that even hours are important in the treatment of these patients, Ear, Nose, and Throat Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlhan Şahin pointed out that hearing loss may be permanent if the treatment is not performed early.

Middle and inner ear diseases have an important place in dizziness and loss of balance, which can occur for many different reasons. Yeditepe University Hospitals Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet İlhan Şahin pointed out that since our hearing and balance organs are coexisting in the inner ear and have very similar structural characteristics, the problems that arise in this region may cause both hearing and balance loss.

One-fifth of patients who experience dizziness have hearing loss!

Stating that hearing loss and dizziness are not seen in all patients together, Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlhan Şahin, on the other hand, informed that approximately one-fifth of patients with dizziness due to an ear disease had hearing loss.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlhan Şahin explained that almost all the Meniere's patients, who were seen in between 1,000 and 10,000 people, experienced dizziness attacks, and that mild and progressive hearing loss was observed. In addition, stating that approximately 40 percent of patients with sudden hearing loss in one ear had dizziness, Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlhan Şahin said, "Apart from these if the middle ear inflammation is affected in the inner ear, both dizziness and severe hearing loss occur in patients." 

Factors Increasing Risk

Saying that some risk factors may cause sudden hearing loss and dizziness, Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlhan Şahin gave the following information: "Acute and chronic middle ear infections, infectious diseases such as head trauma, flu, measles, chickenpox, shingles, increased susceptibility to blood clotting, the use of some antibiotics, diuretics or anti-cancer drugs, migraine, multiple sclerosis, cancer, and rheumatic diseases increase the risk of sudden hearing loss and accompanying dizziness. In this case, which is the result of certain diseases and drugs, the loss of hearing and balance can progress with the underlying disease." 

Early Diagnosis and Treatment Can Prevent Irreversible Results!

Underlining that hearing loss is an important sensory loss that should not be neglected, Yeditepe University Hospitals Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlhan Şahin said that especially sudden dizziness and hearing loss are emergent and delays in diagnosis and treatment as a result of negligence may result in irreversible hearing and balance loss. Adding that early diagnosis and treatment of these patients improved both hearing loss and balance problems, Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlhan Şahin explained to these patients how the approach should be: "Newly emerged hearing loss and balance problems should be examined and examined without delay. Hearing and balance functions should be examined by methods called audiovestibular tests, and some patients also use imaging methods such as computed tomography or MRI. Some patients are treated with drugs and some patients are treated with emergency surgery after a correct diagnosis."

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