May 2008 Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss is a Medical Emergency

Typical onset is that an individual loses his or her hearing over a period of 72 hours or less. Individuals may have a feeling of fullness in the ear and tinnitus. There may be dizziness or vertigo and some report an upper respiratory infection prior to onset of hearing loss. The severity of hearing loss varies and only one ear is usually affected.

There are many causes for sudden hearing loss that include infection, inner ear problems like Meniere’s disease, trauma, neurological, toxic, and unknown causes. Diagnosis is made after ruling out otitis media, systemic diseases or exposure to known ototoxic medications. Blood studies are performed to rule out potentially systemic causes such as Lyme, metabolic, autoimmune and circulatory disorders. A (MRI) magnetic resonance imaging) of the brain is recommended to rule out an acoustic neuroma which is reported to be existent up to 15% of patients with sudden hearing loss. After all this has been done and causes have been rule out, it is diagnosed by documenting a recent decline in hearing. Seeking treatment with either an audiologist or otolaryngologist within the first 72 hours is crucial. Delaying treatment by two weeks or longer after first symptoms began will decrease the chance that medications might improve the hearing loss.

Due to the lack of a definite cause for sudden hearing loss, the treatment is controversial. Oral corticosteroid therapy is among the few treatment modalities that have been proven effective. Other therapies as adjuncts include hyperbaric oxygen treatment and antivirals seem reasonable, given the frequency that herpes family viruses have been associated with sudden hearing loss.

If therapies are unsuccessful, the rehabilitation of these individuals depends on the degree of resultant hearing loss and ranges from no intervention to using hearing aids or other assistive listening devices.

Should sudden hearing loss occur, contact your health care provider or an otolaryngologist and state you are suffering from sudden hearing loss. Seeking care early and diagnosing and treating, if able the reason for sudden hearing loss may improve the severity of loss.

May is Speech, Language and Hearing Month!

May 16: RI Hearing Center will be here to screen students in Pre-K through grade 3.

Pre-K required immunizations:

Completed series of 3 Hepatitis B

Varicella vaccine or documentation having chicken pox

4 Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DPT/DTaP)

4 Pneumococcal Conjugate

3 Polio

4 Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (HIB)

1 Measles, Mumps, Rubella

Physical Examination if new to Pre-K

K requires the following immunizations and current physical:

Completed series of 3 Hepatitis B

Varicella vaccine or documentation having chicken pox

5 Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTP/DTaP)

4 Polio

4 HIB

2 Measles, Mumps, Rubella

Vision screening

Lead screening

Physical Examination

Students entering grades 1-6: Same requirements for K except lead and vision screening.

Students entering grade 6 and who are interested in playing sports are required to submit a current physical examination.

7 th Grade requires the following:

Completed series of 3 Hepatitis B

Varicella vaccine or documentation having chicken pox

5 DTP/DTaP

4 Polio

2 Measles, Mumps, Rubella

Tetanus or TdaP booster

Scoliosis screening

Physical Examination

8 th grade students who are new to Jamestown School must follow the 7 th grade requirements.

The appropriate form must be mailed to the School Nurse-Teacher before the first day of school.