Sudden Hearing Loss: Stories of Hope, Guidance, and Support by Carly Sygrove, Andrea Simonson, PhD, and Caroline Norman, BACP, is a much-needed easy-to-read resource for individuals who have experienced sudden hearing loss, as well as for their friends and family. Personal stories help readers feel less alone, while tips and practical advice provide a “where do I start” checklist to help people move forward. It is a must-read for anyone who has experienced sudden hearing loss or knows someone who has.

The writers bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the book. Sygrove is a hearing loss coach and writer, Simonson is an educational audiologist, and Norman is a counselor and psychotherapist. Each has been personally touched by sudden hearing loss—in Andrea’s case, through her spouse. Together they bring honesty, real-world experience, and varied clinical expertise to this important subject matter.

Book Helps Fill Sudden Hearing Loss Information Gap

Sudden hearing loss, by definition, comes on suddenly, leaving people unprepared and often without an easy way to gather the information they need to make informed choices about their care. Sudden hearing loss is always a medical emergency, requiring immediate medical attention, but many people don’t realize this. Instead, they wait days or even weeks, hoping the condition will resolve on its own. But if they delay too long, the chance of any hearing restoration through steroids or other treatments is significantly reduced.

These testimonials help readers see that they are not alone in facing what can feel like an insurmountable trauma and that a path forward is possible. Many of those who shared their stories wished a book like this had existed at the time of their sudden hearing loss.

But the book offers more than just stories. It includes detailed discussions of the physical and emotional effects of sudden hearing loss, the available treatments and technologies, as well as strategies and resources to help people adapt. Tinnitus, hyperacusis, and vertigo—conditions often accompanying sudden hearing loss—are also discussed.

Important topics include real-world experiences about:

• What to expect at medical appointments
• Early treatment protocols
• Tinnitus and hyperacusis
• Balance disorders
• Emotional impacts of sudden hearing loss
• Hearing aids and cochlear implants

This content is designed to supplement what can be learned during appointments with doctors and audiologists, and is not meant as a substitute for proper medical care and advice.

Required Reading for All Impacted by Sudden Hearing Loss

At 210 pages, the book is a quick, friendly, and informative read. It includes a list of support resources and suggestions for further reading for those who would like to learn more. Detailed notes and bibliography sections support the information that is shared, and a handy index allows readers to jump directly to topics of interest.

Sudden Hearing Loss: Stories of Hope, Guidance, and Support is a welcome addition to the growing list of hearing loss books that combine personal stories with real-world expertise. It is required reading for anyone impacted by sudden hearing loss, both directly and indirectly.

The book also serves as a valuable primer for emergency medicine professionals, audiologists, ENT doctors, and other medical practitioners to help raise awareness of not only the physical symptoms of sudden hearing loss but also its emotional impact. Both need to be addressed!

Published by Johns Hopkins University Press, the book is available starting on May 6, 2025, in the US and on July 1, 2025, in the UK (preordering available). The cost is $19.95 for paperback and ebook, and $54.95 for hardcover.