Losing your hearing overnight seems like something out of a bad dream, but it’s an unsettling reality for people with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). One moment, everything sounds normal; then, a few hours later, there’s muffled noise, ringing, or even total silence in one ear. If this has happened to you, you’re probably looking for answers—and an effective treatment.
One option that has been gaining attention is hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). This well-established treatment increases oxygen levels in the body, reducing inflammation and helping tissues heal. Could it be an option for your sudden hearing loss? Let’s take a closer look.
SSNHL is sudden hearing loss due to nerve-related issues in the inner ear. It typically affects one ear and can develop over hours or a few days. Many people wake up to find they can’t hear out of one ear, or they might notice it for the first time when talking on the phone.
SSNHL happens when something disrupts the inner ear’s delicate system. While doctors don’t always know the exact cause, some possible culprits include:
If you’re experiencing SSNHL, you might notice:
SSNHL is considered a medical emergency. The sooner treatment starts, the better your chances of recovery.
HBOT treatment is simple. You sit or lie in a pressurized, cylindrical chamber with see-through walls and breathe pure oxygen. Normally, oxygen travels through the bloodstream on red blood cells. In an HBOT chamber, the high-pressure environment dissolves extra oxygen directly into the plasma, increasing the amount of oxygen by 15 times and allowing it to reach areas with poor circulation—like the inner ear.
Oxygen is essential for healing, so increasing it helps damaged tissues recover more effectively. That’s why HBOT is used for wounds, infections, and conditions involving compromised blood flow.
So, how does HBOT connect to SSNHL? The inner ear is highly sensitive to oxygen levels, and if blood flow is restricted, the delicate hair cells in the cochlea responsible for detecting sound vibrations can suffer damage. HBOT delivers a higher concentration of oxygen to the inner ear, supporting the recovery of stressed or damaged auditory cells.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss is backed by years of research. Here’s what the studies say:
While HBOT has promising results, it’s not a guaranteed fix for sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Here are some things to keep in mind:
If HBOT isn’t an option or you’re looking to boost your recovery, here are some other approaches to consider:
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not a replacement for steroids, which remains the first-line treatment for SSNHL. Instead, HBOT is often used as an add-on therapy to improve outcomes.
Steroids reduce inflammation and protect inner ear structures. They can be taken orally or injected directly into the ear (intratympanic injections). Injections are often preferred since they deliver medication directly to the affected area while minimizing side effects. As with HBOT, steroids are most effective when started as early as possible after symptoms appear.
While not a cure, adopting certain habits can support recovery:
If hearing loss persists, hearing aids can amplify sound for mild to moderate cases. For severe or profound hearing loss, cochlear implants bypass the damaged inner ear and send sound signals directly to the auditory nerve.
Some SSNHL patients experience dizziness or balance problems. Vestibular therapy retrains the brain to compensate for these issues, improving stability and reducing dizziness.
If you’re considering hyperbaric oxygen therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss, Baromedical Associates offers the most advanced treatment available. Our patients receive HBOT in large clear FDA-approved, single-person hyperbaric chambers for a safe, comfortable experience. We’ve earned a global reputation, treating patients from all over the world who have heard of our excellent work. Contact us today to schedule a consultation, or visit one of our locations in the Dallas Metro area to learn more.
Baromedical Associates specializes in the development and management of medical clinics that use Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and other advanced therapies to provide our patients with the most medically advanced, modern treatment available today.