Sudden Hearing Loss

[rfifer]

Hi,

I am 41 and have an a small AN (6mm) for about 3.5 years.  I just had my
yearly MRI and all was well (the same).  I've had a slight
loss of hearing and tinnitus from the start.  Last week, I woke
up with almost full loss of hearing in my AN ear, and very loud (and
changing) tinnitus.

I went to my local ENT (not my regular AN doctor - Dr. Bigelow at U of
PA) to get a quick hearing test to send to the Dr Bigelow.  The
hearing test was as expected (very bad), and both doctors decided to
put me on prednisone (steroid).  I've read that this can bring back
some or all of the hearing in some cases if treated early.  I visit
Dr. Bigelow tomorrow for a retest and see if this is working.  It's been 5 days
on prednisone and the hearing doesn't seem any different (yet, I hope).

Anyone have any experience taking prednisone for this reason and
getting good/bad/no results?  Any info on vitamins/supplements that might help
also?

Also, is there any treatment method that "might" bring back some of the hearing?
I had been leaning towards Hopkins FSR if I ever had to go, assuming I would watch and
wait, and get it done if growth ever occurred...I didn't expect this!

Thanks in advance.

Russell Fifer

[Rob Mercer]

Russ,

Your experience is a lot like mine.  I had sudden hearing loss on July 7, 2004.  I figured it was ear wax and went to my GP.  When no wax was found I went to an ENT.  This led to an MRI and a 1.3 cm AN.   Tinnitus was also a symptom.  I took steroids for the hearing loss and the hearing returned temporarily.  Since then I have had gamma knife treatment.  The hearing is now completely gone and the tinnitus continues.  However, my latest MRI shows that the tumor growth has stopped and the blood supply to the tumor is stunted. 

[centimeter]

Russell;
  I have been told if there is SHL and no Tx attempt within 24 Hours, the loss will probably be permenant. I trust your steroid was started before then? Some do, however, attenuate to hearing again w/o steroid.
  There is nothing you can do radiologically right away which might restore the loss. Surgical decompression or removal of the AN via middle fossa may be something you might want to ask your doctor about but if the loss remains this next several days, it seems unlikely the hearing would return.
   I've experienced 3 SHLs and two were treated with prednisone and the other not. All 3 rectified within 2-3 days.
  Now, 2 years later with a medium AN in the IAC, the hearing is declining rapidly.
  Take care and best wishes with this Russ.