From Tinnitus to Only 20% Hearing Left: Don't Delay with Sudden Hearing Loss – S

Recently, singer Hins Cheung had to cancel a performance abruptly due to acute inner ear labyrinthitis, which caused vertigo, tinnitus, and a sudden drop in hearing. Even more alarming: after examination, his left ear’s hearing had fallen to only 20%.

This did not happen overnight. For years, high-intensity performances and long hours of monitoring sound with one earpiece had quietly exhausted his inner ear, day after day. At first, there was only occasional tinnitus, then fluctuating hearing. By the time he truly realized something was wrong, his ears had already suffered “burnout.” The acute attack of labyrinthitis became the final straw that broke his hearing.

Many people immediately think of sudden hearing loss when they hear about acute labyrinthitis. Although their symptoms are similar, the causes differ: labyrinthitis is often linked to viral or bacterial infections or autoimmune issues, while sudden hearing loss has more complex causes. But one key point is the same—whether it is acute labyrinthitis or sudden deafness, hearing damage is a signal that must be taken with the utmost urgency. In fact, many patients with sudden hearing loss, looking back at their experience, realize: there were warning signs, but they were ignored.

If you are also a heavy headphone user, a night owl, or someone under high pressure and overtime, and have experienced tinnitus, ear fullness, or unclear hearing without taking it seriously—those overlooked details are quietly damaging your hearing.

Sudden Hearing Loss: Your Ears Are Sending Out an Alarm

01 What is Sudden Hearing Loss?

Sudden hearing loss refers to a sudden, unexplained sensorineural hearing decrease that typically appears within minutes to hours.

Typical symptoms include:

Sudden hearing difficulty: Your ear feels blocked; you notice one side can’t hear well during phone calls.

Rotational vertigo: The world spins, you feel unsteady.

Tinnitus: Buzzing, ringing, or cicada-like sounds that persist.

Ear fullness: A sensation of something stuffed inside the ear.

Nausea and vomiting: Occurs when vertigo is severe.

But the most dangerous part is not the symptoms themselves—it’s your first reaction:

“I stayed up too late last night; I’ll just rest a bit.”

“I’ve been under too much pressure lately; it’s just my cervical spine acting up.”

“Maybe my blood pressure is high; I’ll drink some water.”

Many people choose to – sleep on it. Yet during that “sleep,” hearing is rapidly slipping away.

72 Hours: A Race Against Time

02

You may not know this, but sudden hearing loss is an emergency in otolaryngology.

It won’t kill you, but if you miss the window, your hearing will never come back.

Inside your inner ear are hair cells—the first stop on the auditory pathway. They convert sound signals into electrical signals to send to the brain. These cells are extremely sensitive to oxygen deprivation. Once blood supply to the inner ear is interrupted or severe inflammation occurs, the hair cells begin to be damaged or die.

Here’s the crucial point: Hair cells do not regenerate. Once damaged or dead, the loss is permanent.

Therefore, treatment for sudden hearing loss is essentially a race against cell death:

Within 72 hours – the “golden window” repeatedly confirmed by medical research. Treatment initiated within this timeframe offers the highest chance of recovery.

The longer you wait, the slimmer the hope.

So, if your ears suddenly show the symptoms above, don’t search online. Go see an ENT specialist immediately.

How Are Your Ears “Killed”?

03

Sudden hearing loss doesn’t come out of nowhere. Looking back at cases, several high‑frequency keywords emerge:

① Headphones

Have you noticed that many singers suffer severe hearing decline from prolonged headphone use? This has become a significant occupational hazard in the music industry. Using headphones at high volume for long periods chronically wears down hair cells and auditory nerves. The damage accumulates gradually. It may start with occasional tinnitus, but by the time hearing loss becomes obvious, it is often irreversible.

Suggestion: Follow the “60‑60 rule” (volume ≤60%, continuous use ≤60 minutes). Avoid using headphones in noisy environments. Do not use only one earpiece for long periods. Do not fall asleep with headphones on.

② Staying Up Late + Mental Stress

Have you ever had your ears “ringing” after several nights of staying up late? Long‑term stress, insomnia, and anxiety can disrupt blood flow to the inner ear. When the body is in a “fight or flight” state, blood is preferentially sent to the brain and muscles—leaving the inner ear, a “remote area,” shortchanged.

Suggestion: Maintain a regular sleep schedule (≥7 hours per night). Avoid chronic sleep deprivation. Relieve stress in time. Catch up on sleep after consecutive late nights, and avoid overloading your ears.

③ Viral Infections

Infections such as the common cold, flu, and shingles can spread to the inner ear and cause inflammation. Many people had a cold one or two weeks before sudden hearing loss—the virus remained in the body causing damage.

Suggestion: Rest promptly when you have a cold; don’t tough it out. Take precautions during flu season. If ear discomfort occurs after a cold, see a doctor. Avoid blowing your nose too hard; do it one nostril at a time.

④ Cold + Emotional Fluctuations

The labyrinth is a key structure for both hearing and balance. Once inflamed, both functions can be impaired. When blood vessels spasm or are stimulated by cold, blood flow to the inner ear drops suddenly. Just a few seconds of ischemia can cause permanent damage.

That’s why some people experience sudden deafness after intense anger, strenuous exercise, or sudden exposure to cold.

Suggestion: Avoid extreme emotional swings. Keep your ears warm in cold weather. After intense exercise, do not immediately expose yourself to cold wind or drink ice water. Seek medical attention promptly if ear discomfort occurs.

Birdsong, children’s laughter, a loved one’s whisper, rain on the windowsill…

These everyday beauties are only truly appreciated when they’re lost.

Suddenly not hearing well, the world spinning—these are never trivial.

72 hours. Miss it, and it may be forever.

May we all hear the beauty of the world clearly,

and never know the regret of silence.