Sudden and Asymmetric Hearing Loss Among Active Duty Service Members: Underscoring the Importance of Active Screening

ABSTRACT Military personnel are at increased risk of asymmetric hearing loss secondary to noise exposure. This report illustrates the importance expeditiously evaluating for retrocochlear pathology even in young active duty service members with or sudden loss. A 36-year-old male presented right-sided and dizziness. Audiometry revealed profound mid-to-high-frequency sensorineural right ear. 10-day course oral steroid therapy two intratympanic injections were unsuccessful restoring hearing. MRI a 4.2 cm contrast-enhancing cerebellopontine angle tumor, consistent vestibular schwannoma (VS). Microsurgical resection utilizing retrosigmoid craniotomy approach was performed near-total tumor preservation facial nerve but not cochlear nerve. Despite nerve, progression post-operative weakness required gold weight placement prevent exposure keratopathy. The patient had recovered partial function all branches last follow-up. In light rising global incidence VS, any military should be evaluated audiometry referral otolaryngology workup pathology.