Symptoms

Sudden hearing loss usually presents with a feeling of fullness around the ear and blockage similar to the sensation of not being able to clear your ear after a flight. Sometimes there can be associated noise in the ear (tinnitus) like a ringing or a hum.

Patients and doctors sometimes confuse the blocked feeling with a build up of wax or fluid in the middle ear and as a result patients may present late to a specialist. Early recognition of symptoms and diagnosis is essential if treatment is to be considered as this is less likely to be effective more than 3-4 weeks after the onset of symptoms