How to avoid sad Paul Simon situation with hearing loss: Emily Woodmansey

Sudden hearing loss is much rarer. Sudden sensorineural (inner ear) hearing loss (SSHL), commonly known as sudden deafness, is an unexplained, rapid loss of hearing either all at once or over a few days.

Sudden deafness frequently affects only one ear and it happens because there is something wrong with the sensory organs of the inner ear.

I am an audiologist and also the Managing Director of my company, The Hearing Suite, which I set up five years ago to help self-funded patients who want a quality bespoke service get their hearing back on track.

Early in my career, I worked with several independent hearing clinics and I wanted to replicate the high standards I saw in them for the people local to where I live so I set up my own clinic in Harrogate and then Ikley.

I work with a team of audiologists who see people with different degrees of hearing loss and as well as hearing aids we also deal with things like wax blockage and do everything we can to get them hearing well again.

If we saw someone who had noticed a rapid decline in their hearing, we would advise them to get a GP, audiologist or medical professional to look in their ear as a matter of urgency.

If you or a loved one notices a sudden change in your hearing, arrange for someone to look in your ears the same day. Ideally, in the absence of any wax blockage, that person would also be able to check your middle and inner ear health.

If there is no blockage of wax or fluid in the middle ear, it should be treated as a medical emergency. If there is a sensorineural element to the change in hearing you should go to A&E with a copy of those hearing test results.

It is often also helpful to take a letter from the audiologist who performed the test, making reference to the sudden nature of the loss and requesting immediate steroid treatment.

If dealt with quickly, there are times when appropriate steroid treatment in the first 48 to 72 hours can restore hearing.

If someone came to us in that position i.e. no blockage and a reporting sudden change to their hearing, we would test and contact our ENT consultant immediately.

He would then help us to ensure that the appropriate action was taken when the person went to A&E.

So, my message is that sudden hearing loss shouldn’t be tolerated or ignored.

It makes me wonder if Paul Simon sought immediate help because if he did, perhaps his issue could have been treated and he could continue to tour.

Either way, if you are worried about your hearing or the hearing of a loved one, you should get in touch with a professional as soon as possible.

Emily Woodmansey is an Audiologist and Managing Director of The Hearing Suite