Exciting News for World Hearing Day: Our Book on Sudden Hearing Loss!

My Sudden hearing loss changed everything. In an instant, my hearing went from my superpower—something I prided myself on as an Early Years teacher, where I could pinpoint even the cheekiest of noises from my pupils—to something I could no longer rely on.

I didn’t know sudden hearing loss was even a thing, let alone a medical emergency. So when I couldn’t hear anything from my left ear, I assumed it would pass. I was busy setting up my classroom at the start of a new school year and kept telling myself, I’ll feel better tomorrow. But tomorrow came, and nothing changed.

When I finally saw my doctor, 8 days later, she looked in my ears, said everything looked fine, and sent me home with nasal spray and ibuprofen. She didn’t recognize the urgency, and neither did I. 

It wasn’t until 18 days after my sudden hearing loss that I saw an ENT, had my first hearing test, and was diagnosed with profound sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL).

Though I was quickly started on treatment, by then, I had missed the critical treatment window. Steroids are most effective within the first 24–48 hours, and the chances of recovery decrease significantly after two weeks.

Adjusting to Life with Hearing Loss

Sudden hearing loss turned my world upside down. I had to learn to live with single-sided deafness, which came with practical and emotional challenges:

• No sense of direction: With only one working ear, I couldn’t tell where sounds were coming from.
• Struggles in noisy environments: Conversations became exhausting, trying to listen over background noise.
• Music lost its richness: It just didn’t sound the same and had lost its stereo magic.
• Tinnitus and sound sensitivity: A cruel irony—my world became louder with ringing in my deaf ear, and everyday noises became uncomfortable.
• Balance issues: Walking through crowded or visually busy spaces became overwhelming.
• Hearing loss grief: I needed to grieve my lost sound before determining how to move forward.
• A drop in confidence: It took time for me to figure out how to live well with hearing loss.

I had so many unanswered questions: Why me? What could I have done differently? Will I ever adjust?

Raising Awareness and Offering Support

Over the past eight years, I’ve made it my mission to raise awareness of sudden hearing loss and the importance of prompt treatment. Through numerous collaborations, this blog, my online support group, coaching, and the Sudden Hearing Loss Support website, I’ve connected with thousands of people around the world who have faced the same challenges.

And now, I have some exciting news to share.

Our New Book: A Guide to Navigating Sudden Hearing Loss

This World Hearing Day, I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve co-authored a book alongside audiologist Andrea Simonson and psychotherapist Caroline Norman.

Andrea, Caroline, and I came together through our shared connection to sudden hearing loss—Caroline experienced it firsthand, while Andrea supported her husband through it. Though our journeys were different, we all faced the emotional rollercoaster that comes with sudden hearing loss.

Our book weaves research-backed insights with personal stories from over 60 people worldwide, offering support, hope, and practical guidance.

Inside, we cover:

• The search for answers, and the frustration of misdiagnoses.
• The “what if” and “why me” questions that haunt so many of us.
• What to expect at medical appointments and early treatment protocols.
• Coping with tinnitus and balance issues.
• Working through the emotional impacts of sudden hearing loss.
• Exploring hearing aids, cochlear implants, and paths to adaptation.

We hope this book becomes a valuable resource for individuals and their loved ones navigating sudden hearing loss.

We also hope this book reaches clinicians and healthcare workers, helping them identify sudden hearing loss symptoms and provide immediate treatment to give patients the best chance at preserving their hearing.

Release Date

The book is scheduled for release on May 6, 2025, in the United States, and July 1, 2025, in the United Kingdom.

I hope you’ll share in our excitement as we bring this book to life!