Sudden hearing loss is defined as a rapid onset, ocurring over a 72-hour period, of a subjective sensation of hearing impairment in one or both ears. The primary presenting is a full or blocked ear, because this is so common and non-specific symtom, both, patients and physicians are not sufficiently worried by it and therefore, evaluation and treatment is oftenly delayed. As AME’s we should not overstate any prompt evaluation including otoscopy and audiometry -the most used criterion is a decrease in hearing of 30 dB afecting at least 3 consecutive frecuencies. Here you can download the Clinical Practice Guideline published by American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery-

 

** Sudden Hearing Loss: Clinical Practice Guideline
     Stacher,R; Chandrasekhar,S; Sanford,A; Rosenfeld,R; Seth,S; et al
    Otolaringology- Head and Neck Surgery- March 2012 146:S1