Mon, Jan 19, 2026 page3

• Cold can threaten hearing

  • By Chiu Chih-jou / Staff Reporter
  • • 
    • 
    • 

  Cold weather not only increases the risk of cardiovascular incidents but also the risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), also known as sudden deafness or ear stroke, a doctor warned.

  Wu Chen-Chi (吳振吉), attending physician in University Hospital’s Otolaryngology Department, described a case where a 48-year-old office worker one day woke up with the sudden sensation that their right ear “was turned off” and could not hear, and it was accompanied with tinnitus — the perception of a ringing or buzzing sound.

  Wu said the person at first thought it was caused by a common cold or water in the ear after a bath, but the condition persisted, so they sought treatment and were diagnosed with severe SSNHL. Their hearing has improved with treatment and with hearing aids.

  

  People across a street in an undated photograph.

  Photo: Taipei Times

  The most common clinical causes fall into two categories. The first is “reactivation of viruses that previously remained dormant in the body,” which could be triggered by respiratory tract infections, weakened immunity, or staying up late, he said.

  The second is “sudden blockage of the small blood vessels in the inner ears,” which is a larger risk for elderly people with chronic conditions such as diabetes, vascular constriction caused by winter’s low temperatures and viral factors, which can trigger SSNHL, Wu said.

  Treatment involves steroid injection, administered orally first, Wu said, adding that if the results are not ideal, further evaluations are made for intratympanic injection or hyperbaric therapy.

  Recovery rates follow a “rule of thirds” — one-third of patients recover completely, one-third recover partially and one-third see almost no improvement, Wu said, adding that as it involves inner ear damage, so if no recovery occurs, hearing loss might be permanent.

  The earlier the patients get treatment, the better the outcome, with the first seven days generally considered the critical window for better medical outcome. “The sooner, the better,” Wu said.

  Taiwan Audiologists Association secretary-general Tsai Chih-hsin (蔡鋕鑫) said blood supply to the inner ear relies on the tiny labyrinthine artery, which has almost no backup vessels, so cold-induced vessel constriction or increased blood viscosity can quickly lead to acute ischemia and hearing loss.

  It is common for patients to have sudden hearing loss, tinnitus, a feeling of ear fullness or pressure or even vertigo following a sharp decline in temperature during the night or early morning, he said.

  Tsai said the incidence of SSNHL among younger populations in the past few years has risen, with cases among highly stressed office workers aged between 35 and 55 becoming more common.

  Cold weather naturally causes blood vessels to constrict, so if combined with factors such as staying up late, high stress levels, smoking or excessive caffeine intake, damage to the inner ear capillaries can more easily occur, Tsai said

  As hearing loss is not always obvious, people should seek professional testing for a diagnosis, and if a doctor determines that hearing aids are needed, patients should choose certified providers and pay attention to whether the provider is professionally qualified and provides follow-up services, he said.
• Most Popular

  • 1

    Minister warns Taiwanese about Chinese passports

  • 2

    APEC Shenzen visit was smooth, safe: ministry official

  • 3

    Manchester United tap Carrick as interim coach

  • 4

    Taiwan passport rises three spots in global ranking

  • 5

    Taiwan eases work, residency restrictions for foreign professionals