06/11/2026
Phil Amato, a reporter for Action News Jax, shares his experience with sudden hearing loss (SSHL) and a recovery through Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy:
"I’ve spent decades telling other people’s stories on television. This time, the story became my own. On January 29, 2026, I was driving home listening to the radio when something suddenly changed. By the time I pulled into my driveway, I realized I had lost much of the hearing in my right ear. Sounds became muffled. Voices didn’t sound normal ... I went through hearing tests that showed severe hearing loss in my right ear along with almost no word clarity. For someone who works in television and communication, the diagnosis was terrifying."
"Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBOT, is also increasingly being used alongside steroids. During the treatment, patients breathe pure oxygen inside a pressurized chamber. Specialists say the increased oxygen levels may help deliver more oxygen-rich blood to the damaged inner ear structures, potentially helping sensitive hearing cells recover. I documented every part of it — from lying inside the oxygen chamber to sitting in a doctor’s office receiving injections in my ear."
"This experience changed me personally and professionally. It also left me with one important message for others: if your hearing suddenly changes, don’t ignore it. Don’t assume it’s earwax. Don’t wait a week hoping it clears up. Be your own advocate. Because when silence strikes suddenly, every hour matters."
👉Read the full story: https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/action-news-jaxs-phil-amato-shares-his-experience-with-sudden-sensorineural-hearing-loss/6Y5EZWIUPNFFTLYBMTW45OALHI/
