From Silence to Sound: A New Dawn at AIIMS Jammu
AIIMS Jammu Restores Hearing for 28-Year-Old Man through Timely Intervention for Sudde Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL)
What happens when, without any warning or pain, the world around you suddenly falls silent in one ear? For a 28-year-old man from Jammu, this alarming experience turned into a story of hope and recovery—thanks to the expert care at AIIMS Jammu. Under the visionary leadership of Prof. (Dr.) Shakti Kumar Gupta, Executive Director & CEO of AIIMS Jammu, the Institute continues to set new benchmarks in clinical excellence and patient care.
The young patient arrived at AIIMS Jammu with sudden hearing loss in his right ear, accompanied by a persistent ringing sound. He was promptly diagnosed with Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL)—a rare otological emergency that demands immediate attention.
Upon presentation, a multidisciplinary team from the Department of ENT and Audiology conducted a detailed clinical and audiological evaluation. The team, led by senior faculty members Dr. Darwin Kaushal and Dr. Amardeep Singh, swiftly identified the need for urgent intervention. Under their supervision, the patient was administered intratympanic dexamethasone injections — a targeted therapy delivering steroid medication directly to the middle ear to address cochlear inflammation. Over the course of five carefully timed sessions within a week, the patient’s hearing showed steady improvement. What initially began as moderately severe hearing loss culminated in full restoration of hearing and speech clarity by the end of the treatment.
The case exemplifies the power of early diagnosis, evidence-based protocols, and coordinated teamwork. Supporting the clinical management were ENT residents Dr. Pooja, Dr. Youshita, Dr. Shivane, Dr. Muskan, and Dr. Gunjan, along with audiologists and speech-language pathologists Nityansh Saluja, Akshita Gupta, and Reyaz Ahmad.
The Department of ENT at AIIMS Jammu is fully equipped to handle not only such emergencies but also offers a wide spectrum of advanced surgical and rehabilitative services, including tympanoplasty, mastoidectomy, complex middle ear surgeries, and cochlear implants. Supported by state-of-the-art audiological and operative infrastructure, the department serves as a regional referral center for complex ENT cases.
Beyond clinical care, the department is also advancing medical research. Under the guidance of Dr. Darwin Kaushal, Dr. Muskan Rao is currently conducting a Randomized Controlled Trial titled “Comparison of Efficacy of Intratympanic Methylprednisolone and Intratympanic Dexamethasone in Treatment of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss,” further contributing to the Institute’s growing academic portfolio.
AIIMS Jammu also advises the public to remain alert to early warning signs of SSNHL such as sudden ear blockage, tinnitus, hearing loss, or vertigo. The first 72 hours are critical for initiating effective treatment and maximizing recovery.
At AIIMS Jammu, timely care, teamwork, and clinical excellence continue to restore what was feared lost — the gift of hearing — and in doing so, offer renewed hope to patients and families every day.
