Resolution of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss Following a Roller Coaster Ride

• DOI: 10.1007/s12070-011-0216-8
• Publication Date: 2011-04-29T17:25:17Z
• Authors: Aman Kumar; Amrita Sinha; Ahmad M. Al-Waa
• Keywords: Roller coaster; Pure tone audiometry; Unilateral hearing loss

We report a case of sudden unilateral sensorineural hearing loss of sudden onset during an aeroplane flight, which completely resolved during a roller coaster ride at Alton Towers theme park. A review of the literature concerning sudden idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss and spontaneous resolution are discussed. Initially, pure-tone audiometry showed a profound sensorineural hearing loss in the right ear and mild sensorineural hearing loss in the left ear (of note, the hearing was normal prior to the episode). Following resolution of the patient’s symptoms during a roller coaster ride, pure-tone audiometry showed normal hearing thresholds in both ears. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is a symptom of cochlear injury and the mechanism of the patient’s symptoms was attributed to a patent cochlear aqueduct.