Sudden Hearing Loss from a Virus—Is It Catching?
by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.
Recently a man phoned me and explained,
My boss suddenly lost the hearing in one ear due to a virus. My question to you is—is he contagious? In other words, can I lose my hearing from being near him?
I’ve answered thousands of questions related to ears, but this is the first time this particular question has ever come up. Even though no one has asked it before, it is an excellent question.
There’s good news and bad news. First the bad news. Yes, he is contagious—in exactly the same way as if he had a cold or flu. If your immune system isn’t up to par, you could catch his cold or flu from being around him—because that is likely the kind of “bug” he has.
Now for the good news. The chances of your having the same reaction to his virus if you get it is minuscule. For example, I’ve heard of family members having sudden hearing loss from a virus, but I’ve never heard of another family member also getting the virus and having a sudden hearing loss. I’m sure it is possible, but it must be extremely rare if it does occur.
The virus that causes sudden deafness is not some strange, esoteric virus, but just the regular viruses that are around us like cold viruses, flu viruses, Chicken Pox (Varicella) viruses, etc. Normally they cause all the symptoms you know well, but sometimes, for whatever reason, they get into the inner ear and wreak havoc there resulting in sudden hearing loss and/or balance problems.
Personally, I wouldn’t be at all worried about “catching” sudden hearing loss from your boss.
March 1st, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Hi,
Can you please tell me if the sudden loss of hearing due to a virus is permanant? Will any of my hearing come back and is there anything one can do? It is driving me crazy! Many thanks Chris
March 1st, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Hi Chris:
Some people recover most of their hearing, and others are left with permanent severe hearing loss. So you can’t generalize and predict what will happen.
If you see an ear specialist in the next few days after you notice a hearing loss, he may prescribe Prednisone and sometimes an anti-viral, and these can stop further hearing loss and put you on the road to recovering some or most of your lost hearing.
However, this has to be done quickly. By the time 30 days have passed, it is unlikely that any treatment will help and the hearing you have at the end of 30 days or so is a good indication of what you will likely have permanently.
July 28th, 2008 at 12:39 am
The same thing happened to me in March of last year and I lost most of the hearing in my left ear. It unfortunately has not returned
July 17th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
i had a debilitating virus about 6 weeks ago and started lossing hearing shortly thereafter. over the past few weeks there has been considerable loss in both ears. the first doctor i saw said it was due to cochlear degeneration and there was nothing to do about the loss (which was still ongoing). a second wonderful doctor put me on prednisone and the first two days my hearing improved enormously. by the end of the 2nd day, however, my hearing again started to diminish. now he wants to put me on a more intense prednisone regiment. what are the chances of my getting my hearing back? of tinnitus ending? is it likely that this hearing loss is due to the virus and not cochlear degeneration for which nothing can be done? i’m appreciative of any thoughts.
my partner recently had “vestibular neuronitis”. could this also be related to a virus? she is having occasional double vision now and other seemingly neurologically related symptoms.
July 19th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Hi Amy:
Prednisone works for some people–obviously it worked well for you. However, when your hearing starts getting bad again after Prednisone treatments, I have to wonder what is going on.
One possibility is that the virus is still active–in which case your doctor might want to prescribe an anti-viral as well as the Prednisone.
If your hearing loss was not related to a virus, but for example, autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED), then Prednisone can recover hearing while you are taking it, but in some people the hearing loss returns as soon as they quit taking the Prednisone.
Since the Prednisone worked at the start, it may be worthwhile trying a more aggressive Prednisone therapy to see what happens. Just don’t stay on the Prednisone too long so you don’t get all the other side effects that Prednisone can cause.
If your hearing returns, there is a good chance that your resulting tinnitus will go away, but there are no guarantees.
As for your friend’s vestibular neuronitis, yes, it could be caused by a virus–for example, the herpes simplex Type 1 virus.
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:18 am
Coming back from a trip my ears plugged when the plane was landing, something that happens all the time. The next day my hearing had not returned and I came down with a severe case of the flu. Two weeks after I contacted our family doctor about my hearing loss and she advised to have my ears checked for wax. My ears were clean. Next I was put on a nose spray and still my hearing did not return. Last week I was seen by an audiologist who advised me I had about 50% hearing in both ears and that it would not return. She recommeded two hearing aids. Is there any chance that my hearing will return without the aid of hearing devices? At this stage my ears feel the same as they did when the plane was landing.
August 31st, 2009 at 5:20 pm
I just heard about this virus from a friend. i have the same thing… The flu and hearing loss in one hear.
June 5th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
My wife was taken Ill and bed ridden for 2 weeks. The family Doc gave he several prescriptions after man trips to correct her virus. One morning she wok up and said he ears felt like they where filled with fluid. Another trip to the Doc he placed her on a steroid and told her to see an ENT. It took 4 weeks to get the ENT appointment, once seen the ENT and audiologist talk her that she had suffered “sudden hearing loss†and there no longer any anything that can be done to correct the problem. We where also told that had we seen the ENT a month ago she could have been placed on steroids and she would have not lost her hearing. Wow – what a shock. My wife is now 100% death in the right and has a problem in the left. She is suffers from in-balance and is on a low sodium diet. Any ideas? Dan
July 10th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
MARCH 7/2010 I WENT ON 12 DAY SIX COUNTRY CRUISE IN EUROPE, GOT VERY SICK THE 3RD DAY. STAYED ON THE SICK SHIP UNTIL MY RETURN 12 DAYS LATER. WENT TO MY DOCTOR THE VERY NEXT DAY. HAD FEVER,BRONCHITIS, AND BOTH EARS STOP UP. OF COURSE I HAD RX’S FOR THE BRONC,I ALSO HAD HIGH DOSE OF PREDNISONE FOR THE EARS ALONG WITH 2 DIFFERENT NASAL SPRAYS AT THE SAME TIME. HAD SINUS XRAYS WHICH WERE FINE. I THOUGHT IT WAS FLUID IN EARS, WENT TO THE E.N.T. FRIDAY(4 MONTHS LATER) TO BE TOLD I LOSS MY HEARING AND I DID NOT HAVE FLUID IN THE EARS AND TO START THE NASAL SPRAY AGAIN,GO TO THE HEARING SPECIALIST FOR HEARING AIDS..I HEAR, BUT THE FEELING IN THE EARS HAVE NOT GONE AND WAS TOLD IT WILL NOT GO THIS IS WHAT LOSS OF HEARING IS. I AM DONE WITH THESE NAME BRAND CRUISE SHIPS.
July 15th, 2010 at 11:27 pm
Hi , My 10 year old son has recently been diagnosed with bilateral LVAS. He has almost complete hearing loss in one ear and the other ear is perfect.
Is this common in LVAS?
Is it likely that his other ear will lose hearing also?
What % of hearing do cochlear implants provide?
Regards Kerry
October 5th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
My story is just like 6. Ann’s. Ann – has your hearing come back? I saw an ENT yesterday, 15 days after the flight (had to wait a week for an appt). I’m taking prednisone, I’ve had 2 doses now and see no improvement yet, but I’m hopeful! It’s so depressing to not be able to communicate the way I’m used to!
October 17th, 2010 at 7:02 pm
Last Saturday my wife suddenly began to complain of ringing and hearing loss in her right ear. As it worsened, we went the hospital and Prednisone was prescribed. It did nothing but make her feel terrible for 5 days and she stopped taking it. She’s extremely concerned because her left ear has pressure and distorted sounds/ringing. If this was from a virus, could it have spread to the other ear? also, this is the first I’ve heard of anti-viral medication being prescribed . . . is that typically helpful? Thanks
February 15th, 2011 at 3:47 pm
Thank you for your honest and helpfull website, I lost my hearing two weeks age due to sensenural hearing loss in both ears, had the 5 day in patient treatment, steroids etc.. I am at home now waithng for another two weeks for the next appointment, feel like I am going totally insane,, one of the worst things I have ever had to and continue to endure,,, thanks for letting me write this,, maybe you may understand what this is like..
kind regards paula
February 22nd, 2011 at 2:12 pm
Hello all…I lost all hearing in the right ear October 5, 2010–saw an audiologist, total deafness in the right ear, was told this probably viral? was given steroids–no help. Had a third audio test 1/28/11 to be told the same thing as before. The audiologist was giving me false hope that my hearing could still return; he had encountered a person who got their hearing back 9mos later? When I saw the ENT, she was frank and truthful…she said, ‘if the hearing didnt return within the first 9weeks, it would not return. Well, at least I am not hoping anymore…of course, if it should come back—oh happy day, but at least I still have 100% in the left ear!!!
July 7th, 2011 at 5:51 pm
Age 52 and in great health – never get sick and take vitamins, herbs, and eat right. My boss at work got some kind of flu, I did not seem to catch it, and went on a vacation about 1 1/2 weeks later. There in a museum, hearing in my right ear stopped. Felt like “swimmers ear” and thought it would “pop”. Nope, then I got the “drunk” feeling – light vertigo, then the right side of my face felt numb. This all happened over about a 2 1/2 hour span. Left the museum and right to an emergency room – thought it might be a stroke. Nope, a CT scan revealed sinusitus and I got a three day antibiotic and anti-vert. Three weeks later at home, went to and ENT. 90% hearing loss, put on prednisone for 3 weeks, and still no hearing. MRI scan was next, no tumors or mini-stroke. Hearing is just gone. My boss still is deaf in his ear as well and sought no treatment. Two co-workers each have a family/friend who is in the same boat, got sick and then hearing loss. Read a report on internet citing hearing loss from a virus in children in Afghanistan – sometimes it has flu like symptoms, and sometimes nothing at all, just the hearing loss. Could out returning war veterans be returning with this virus and passing it into the general population??? Seems to co-incidental, at least for me, to be one of four people who got this thing near the same time. Very frustrating not knowing, let alone find a fix.
September 30th, 2011 at 10:19 am
I had a similar experience as Jim M except occured in the middle of the night. Woke up Christmas Eve morning 2007 and found the hearing gone in my left ear. Very disorienting. The next night, I woke in the middle of the night with an extreme vertigo. Could not sit or stand w/out extreme nausea. My wif etook me to the clinic–I was checked out for a stroke. No stroke so sent home. Stroke nuerologist thought Meniere’s. Doctor also set up an appointment for a week out to see ENT. When I saw th eENT, she placed me on the Prednisone and anti-viral regimine. Too late, however. She told me that to be truly effective, needs to be administered w/in 48 hours. Hearing loss is about 80%. The loss is tough to take–however, the real problem is the ringing, high pitched whine, etc. that filters through my left ear.
October 8th, 2011 at 5:04 pm
A week ago, had sudden, severe hearing loss in left ear over just 3-4 hours time. Noticed first the extreme roaring and ringing in left ear, and then, that I could near a dial tone at all in my left ear on the phone. Switched to right ear and could hear it. I actually thought at first that something was wrong with the phone. I experienced some vertigo, dizziness and imbalance and this continues now a week later, with no recovery of hearing in that ear.
I had no symptoms of any cold, cough, nothing, and had been fine all day last Saturday when this all began.
Last Saturday, my Husband rushed me to E.R. The doctor on call thought it was Meniere’s, but said to see ENT specialist asap on Monday. On Monday, I called the specialist’s office twice, no appt. was available. I called again Tues, two more times, and still could not get in to see him.
Finally, they called back and said to go to the audiologist first. Profound loss, near complete deafness in left ear, he confirmed, calling and faxing the ENT to get me in asap. Finally saw ENT specialist on Thurs. (five days after initial event) and now I read that 48 hours is critical to begin meds (steroids and anti viral!)
ENT specialist finally sent me for an MRI, which I had been asking for since Sat. at the E.R. and again on Monday. Also ordered the blood tests to check for the possibility of a virus.
Does anyone here know definitively if there is really a 48 hour window to make a real difference in regaining hearing in the affected ear? I’ve heard everything from 48 hours to ten days to thirty.
Prayers for everyone here, and thank you for this forum.
October 14th, 2011 at 2:46 pm
I can relate with Kay.
Thursday at little after 7pm I experienced severe LEFT ear pain. By 8pm, lost most of my hearing.
Friday PM, I began antibiotics (oral and otic).
No change by Monday.
Saw ENT on Thursday. Audiometry tests came back normal. Said it might be related to my TMJ. No convinced. Using night guard almost 24hrs each day to see if it makes a difference.
Friday afternoon, no difference yet.
Going to see another ENT on Monday. Will ask to try steroids to see if it clears this up.
Feels like pressure/as if my ear is plugged up from cold/infection. Can hear some ringing. Sounds are tinny, half pitch off from other ear.
November 30th, 2011 at 12:12 am
Ten days ago I experienced sudden hearing loss while talking on the phone. It began with crackling in my left ear and I thought, at first, that there was a problem with the phone. Then, within less than 10 minutes, I couldn’t hear. Within another 30 minutes, I felt the same crackling noise begin to affect my right ear! I didn’t know what was happening. I never lost the hearing in my right ear but I felt that it was possible for about a tense 15 minutes.
I went to sleep and when I woke up the next morning, I felt that the hearing in my left ear was slightly better.
Ten days after my initial hearing loss, I had an appointment with an ENT doctor. She said I had significant hearing loss in my left ear. She put me on Prednisone 10mg for 18 days, wants an MRI, blood work and to come back in a week to repeat the hearing test and be re-evaluated. She said she feels I have a virus and said that 30% get better on their own, about 50% get better or improve with Prednisone and another 30% see no improvement.
I thank those that have shared their own experience. I feel I have benefited from your information.
December 7th, 2011 at 12:25 pm
At the end of August 2011 felt run down but no flu symptoms.Next day woke up and hearing loss in left ear,visited my GP who diagnosed ear infection and prescribed OTC medications
No improvement after 6weeks and GP sent me for MRI scan,thankfully came back normal and advised to see ENT specialist. Hearing loss was still evident but tinnitus had dissapated to tolerable level
ENT guy ran some tests and advised that I had permanent hearing loss and because I had good hearing in right ear to adjust my lifestyle.
I was so devastated with this,has any one any advise whether natural/medical treatment that may be useful
December 22nd, 2011 at 10:23 am
Wow. What a scary forum. My Mom ended up being TERRIBLY sick 3 wks ago; was admitted to the hospital-after seeing her doc who diagnosed her w/ vertigo and put her on Prednisone and antibiotic. She was SO deliriously sick from the dizziness and spinning and loss of hearing in her right ear. She seen the ENT finally after a week who put her on anti spinning and anti nausea meds. The symptoms subsided but still no hearing. She just called me after going back to the ENT and seeing an audiologist and they informed her she has permanently lost her hearing in her ear. What the heck?? I was shocked to see all of the same type of stories on here.#15 (Jim’s) comment scares me… Just praying that she doesn’t get this “virus” in the other ear or that anyone else I know ends up with it
December 30th, 2011 at 8:30 pm
I lost my low frequency in my left ear 4 years ago. I had a virus twice that year. I had sloshing in the ear the day before and woke up the next day and hearing was gone. Went to the doctor that day and was put on prednisone and then had a longer series of it. It didn’t help at all. All it did was make me swell and irritable. I hear it can help some, but not for me.
The ocean sound in my ear and ringing can be hard at times, but your body does adjust. I can not talk on the phone with the left ear anymore, but I can still hear high pitches and the birds singing.
I haven’t tried a hearing aid.
The doctor told me it happens alot more they we would think.This should be researched!
January 5th, 2012 at 12:09 pm
I had gotten a cold a little over a month ago and lost the hearing in my left ear right away, and my right ear would be clogged but if I lift my head it would drain and I can hear…after a couple of weeks and not getting any better, my boss(RN) advised me to see an ENT… I was placed on Amoxicillin but after 7 days there was no change…so almost 2 months later, my left ear has a permanent ringing and my right ear is the same until i pick my head up… I am a single mom of 6 with no health insurance and although I work in a hospital I can not afford to pay for the costly insurance, which made it impossible for me to get the right treatment needed to get my hearing back…Suprised to be one of many with the same medical issue…I guess I will be like this forever. So sad!
January 8th, 2012 at 1:51 am
I’m sick, have a cold and I went to bed one night. And I woke up and my ear feels like I have a cup over it. Some of my hearing went away but I can still hear fine. Just a little bit lower,when I go to sleep and wake up the feelings one one ear and they kinda trade off and I want to know if my ears are acting like this because I have a virus?
January 8th, 2012 at 7:50 am
Hi Sandra:
It’s more likely your middle ears are a bit clogged up with “gunk” from your cold. That produces some degree of conductive hearing loss.
When your ears “trade off”, is it because you are sleeping on one side then the other. The ear that is “up” drains so you hear better from it when you get up. By the same token, the ear that was “down” clogs up so you hear worse.
After you have been up and around for a couple of hours, both ears should hear about the same until you lay down again.
January 17th, 2012 at 7:11 pm
Dec. 8, 2011 I was driving home from work and I experienced a popping sound in both ears. (I was not sick felt fine before this happened) I called my doctor and got an appt. the next day. He put me on 60mg of Prednisone right away said probably a deep sinus infection and I should be better by Monday. The next day my right ear returned to normal…. over the weekend my left ear was getting worse… lots of loud white noise and ringing and hearing getting worse. By Monday I was sent to ENT he sent me for hearing test and told me I had Sudden Hearing Loss. I was in shock. My left ear had moderate to severe hearing loss. The ENT praised my doctor and continued me on 60mg of Prednisone and added Valtrex (antiviral) for an additional 10 days. Prednisone is a wicked and wonderful medication. By the next day after seeing the ENT my left ear was completely numb and I was completely deaf in my left ear. I was very depressed, upset and overwhelmed. Within 17 days on these drugs my hearing was back 100% ( it happened to be Christmas Day) I wanted to post this because most post are not positive and wanted to let people know that you may get your hearing back. I hope this helps some of you. Oh and I also took extra vitamin E and B12… I had read this on some website…
January 18th, 2012 at 11:16 am
Tricia, thank you for your post. I was starting to panic. I am 33 years old, 21 weeks pregnant and have a 2 year old at home. 2 days ago I was driving back to work from my lunch break and started getting a ringing sound and muffling in my right ear. Within 2 hours my hearing was gone on that side and I developed mild vertigo. I was worried it was related to the pregnancy so I went to the ER. The doc had no explanation and said I needed to get to an ENT. I called the next day and pleaded to any ENT that would listen (because my husband is in the Air Force and was deploying the next day). They got me right in. He instilled a steroid injection into my hear and started me on 60mg Prednisone a day and Valacyclovir three times a day. I have complete hearing loss in my right ear and the vertigo comes and goes. I found this blog and have researched sudden hearing loss, and was starting to really panic. I am scared about losing my hearing permanently but I am terrified about the meds I am on and how they will affect my unborn child. I am too emotional right now to handle any of this and the constant ringing in my ear is just adding to the anxiety. I was happy to read a positive post and pray that I will have the same outcome.
January 18th, 2012 at 8:55 pm
Hi Jessica, I am so glad that my post calmed your nerves somewhat. I am so sorry your going through this. I wouldnt wish this on my worst enemy! I dont know anything about how the Prednisone will effect your baby… but I’m sure the doctors took that into consideration when prescribing it. You did the right thing by insisting on seeing an ENT within 24 hours. I have heard that the injections work very well. The Valacyclovir I think is really important because they think this is caused by a virus. Just keep in mind that it can cause bad acid reflux and bad headaches. I also researched and was starting to panic because there is only doom and gloom on these blog. That is why I posted my positive outcome. My advise to you is to stop googling Sudden Hearing Loss because you will make yourself crazy and it wont be helpful. Its very important to try and relax and stay calm and focus on the positive. ( I was hysterical at times) Also keep in mind that it may take up to a month for your hearing to get back to normal. Please ask your doctor if taking Vitamin E and B12 is okay while your pregnant. I wish you the best!
February 20th, 2012 at 7:54 pm
I am glad I am not the only one. It has been one year, and my hearing in my left ear is getting progressively worse. I was first told that I got it from the flu shot (1-28-11), because the tinnitus started 2 days later. I had mild vertigo two weeks prior. Now, one year later, my hearing in my left ear is declining. I am having constant side/side vertigo. I have also been diagnosed with 4 herniated discs in my neck. I am told if I don’t get a hearing aid, that I will not be able to correct my hearing and will not understand speech. If I knew exactly what caused this, I could accept it. It’s the unknown…I never know if the “virus” is going to attack my other ear. The doctor told me my hearing would not get worse. He was wrong and I feel I am on my own.
February 26th, 2012 at 9:49 am
I am sorry to hear so many are experiencing sudden hearing loss. Reading all the messages are helping me understand a little more and not feel so alone. I was feeling fine and happy the weekend of February 17th to 21st, 2012 but did have a 3 day cold the week prior. Anyhow over that particular weekend my ears felt full and very weird. By Monday the 21st I was deaf in my left ear. I went through many emergency appointments starting on February 22nd, was placed on prednisone which sent me to emergency with terrible side effects. I was taken off the prednisone after just one day of taking the 50 mg but the side effects remained for still another full day and night. I now have an MRI scheduled for February 28th. It has been one week since my hearing ordeal. My ears still feel full, noisy & weird BUT I can now hear the ring tone on my phone a little where last week I could only hear silence. Keeping my fingers crossed & praying here for better recovery as I will for everyone on this message site. Take Care!