Acute hearing loss: what to do if it happens to you
Content-Team SWICA
What happens in episodes of acute hearing loss?
There is a difference between sudden hearing loss and a slow, age-related deterioration in your hearing or blockage of your ear caused by a build-up of earwax. When your ear canal becomes blocked with earwax, this usually happens over the course of a few days or directly after showering or washing your hair, as the moisture causes the wax to swell even further. The symptoms are very similar to sudden hearing loss, so you should always bear this possibility in mind if your hearing is impaired out of the blue. If you're not sure whether your ear might be blocked, it's worth having it looked at and/or syringed. You can now have this done at certain pharmacists (e.g. aprioris pharmacies).
What should I do if I experience acute hearing loss?
If the symptoms described above persist for more than a day and there is no obvious cause, such as a cold or ear infection, then you may be experiencing acute hearing loss. In this case, it's important to quickly seek out a medical professional at an ear, nose and throat (ENT) clinic. You stand the best chance of making a full recovery if treatment starts within the first 72 hours after experiencing the symptoms.
In addition to seeking medical treatment, it's very important for sufferers to reduce their day-to-day stress levels because stressors (mental or physical) can negatively affect recovery.
How can I prevent acute hearing loss?
Although it's often impossible to attribute acute hearing loss to a single cause, there are some steps you can take to lower your risk. Here are some ideas:
- Reduce stress. Persistent stress causes many conditions, and it is assumed that acute hearing loss is one of them. Take short breaks in your day to lower your stress levels. Practise relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga or a taking a walk in the fresh air.
- Generally maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eating a balanced diet and getting enough exercise will help keep your cardiovascular system healthy.
- Don't smoke. Stopping smoking can improve the blood circulation and health of your inner ear.
- Protect your ears. You can't always avoid loud environments, so it's worth using ear defenders or ear plugs at concerts or loud workplaces.
For SWICA customers: santé24 and Benecura
In the event of further health-related questions, SWICA customers can contact the santé24 online practice free of charge on +41 44 404 86 86. A telemedicine practice licence allows santé24 physicians to provide additional medical services in cases that are suited to a telemedicine approach.
SWICA customers can also use the Benecura medical app to carry out a digital SymptomCheck and receive recommendations about what to do next. During a subsequent phone call with santé24, customers can decide for themselves whether to release their information from SymptomCheck to santé24.
