Sudden hearing loss 6 years after Gamma Knife

[sewnice50]

Hi everyone,
I had a sudden hearing loss January 5, 2013 .  I woke up and noticed a hearing change. (after Gamma knife in 2006 my hearing had dropped about 50% over 1 year).   I put my hearing aid in and it did not seem to be working.  I tried it in my non-AN ear and it seemed to be working fine.

I had a hearing test yesterday (January 7) it showed a slight hearing loss.  However the hearing recognition dropped 32%.

Why would this be happening after all this time.  I am due for a MRI this May after skipping a year.  I was doing well enough to skip a year.  The audiologist mentioned "nerve damage".

What could be happening?

Thanks in advance for your input,  I am very nervous.
Sewnice50

[Jim Scott]

Hi ~

I'm sorry to learn about your sudden hearing deficiency and your nervousness is quite understandable.   Unfortunately, although Gamma Knife radiation treatment is very effective, hearing loss is a possible consequence of the procedure and delayed hearing loss is not entirely uncommon.  I would suggest consulting your doctor for more specific information but your audiologist's mention of nerve damage is accurate.  Please try to let us know how this eventually works out for you.  Thanks.

Jim

[mk]

Sorry about the hearing loss so many years after treatment. It is common knowledge that hearing loss can happen within a 5 year time frame after GK, so I would assume that 6 years is not unheard of. Perhaps a dose of steroids, can help restore some of the hearing if taken soon enough after the episode, have you asked your doctor about this? Steroids always worked for me after experiencing these episodes.

Marianna

[GM]

I too am sorry to hear of your new challenge.  I also recommend seeing your doctor about a steroid treatment...that stuff is amazing.   Have you noticed an increase in tinnitus with the sudden hearing loss?  Have you been dealing with any head congestion....ear clogging?

Wishing you the best.

Gary

[arizonajack]

Personally, I'd move the MRI up to ASAP.

[sewnice50]

Thank you all for your responses.  I just had an A-fib ablation on the 10th.  I am just up and moving from that experience.

I did take a dose pack of steroids right away starting January 9, and I think it did help a bit.  I still have loud tinnitus in the ANA ear.

I am having a  hearing test re-do to see if the steroids helped, and an MRI as soon as I can schedule it.  My doctor said he doesn't find this unusual even if it was sudden. 

I will let you all know what the MRI shows.  I should be within a week.
Sue

[GM]

I had a similar incident and I too went in for an emergency MRI and a hearing test in 2007.  The MRI didn't show anything, but the hearing test showed a drop in hearing discrimination.  After finishing the steroid pack I had a follow up and the speech discrimination came back to almost pre-episode levels.

Definitely agree to follow up with your doc.