How Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Saved One Man’s Hearing
One night in July 2020, David was getting into the shower when he suddenly lost all hearing in his left ear. David was a healthy, happy 36-year-old man with no history of hearing issues. Thinking he simply had water in his ear, he went about his day and tried to ignore it. After a few days, it was clear something more serious was going on. A week after the sudden hearing loss, he saw his primary care doctor, who immediately referred him to an Ear, Nose, & Throat Doctor (ENT).
When David saw the ENT, he was prescribed a 40 mg oral dose of the corticosteroid Prednisone. The ENT hoped the Prednisone would restore David’s hearing without needing to take further action. Unfortunately, his hearing did not improve. At his second appointment, the ENT gave him an intratympanic steroid injection—a steroid shot directly into the ear—and then recommended hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) involves breathing 100% infused oxygen inside a pressurized chamber. This enables oxygen to reach every part of the body, where it both repairs damaged cells and encourages new cellular growth (1). At the same time, HBOT promotes circulation and stem cell growth, which reduces inflammation and supports the immune system (1).For decades, HBOT has proven effective for treating a multitude of medical conditions, including diabetic ulcers, bone infections, and radiation injury (2). Increasingly, it has also been found to restore sudden hearing loss.
David did some research on local hyperbarics centers and found Holistic Hyperbarics. He gave us a call, and our staff put him in touch with our founder Alex, who explained the benefits of HBOT for sudden hearing loss. “Everybody was really accommodating,” said David of his experience with Holistic Hyperbarics. “After my conversation with Alex, I felt a little bit more relief.” He confirmed with his ENT that HH was a legitimate place, and then came in for his first hyperbarics session.
Along with HBOT, David’s ENT increased his steroid injection from 40 mg to 60 mg. After just four sessions in our hyperbaric chambers, David’s hearing increased five decibels. After finishing his treatment protocol with us, his left ear’s hearing had been restored to nearly the same as his right ear.
David is one of our biggest hearing loss success stories. There is one major reason why he had such incredible results: he got into the chamber early. There is a good chance of recovering your hearing if you get into the chamber within fourteen days. If you start hyperbaric oxygen therapy more than two weeks after sudden hearing loss, it is very unlikely HBOT will be able to restore your hearing.
At Holistic Hyperbarics, we want to save your hearing. If you or a loved one has experienced sudden hearing loss, please reach out. Our knowledgeable staff will explain the HBOT protocol for sudden hearing loss, and get you started on the path to healing. Our mission is to get you in the chamber within two weeks of your sudden hearing loss, so we can restore your hearing, and get you on a path toward wellness. We look forward to serving you.
SOURCES:
1. Staff, Mayo Clinic. “Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 12 Jan. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy/about/pac-20394380.
2. Staff, IHAUSA. “Anti Aging.” International Hyperbarics Association, International Hyperbarics Association, 2020, www.ihausa.org/anti-aging.html.
3. Imsuwansri, Thanarath, et al. “Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss after Failure from Oral and Intratympanic Corticosteroid.” US National Library of Medicine | National Institutes of Health , Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology, Apr. 2012, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3369993/.