sudden sensorineural hearing loss
Last reviewed 03/2023
- sudden sensorineural hearing loss (sudden deafness)
(1)
- a rapid loss of hearing that occurs suddenly or over a period of up to 72 hours
- a medical emergency
- can affect anyone
- common between the ages of 30 and 60
- causes include
- infections
- trauma (e.g.head injury)
- immunological (e.g.Cogan's syndrome)
- toxins
- ototoxic drugs
- multiple sclerosis
- Ménière's disease
- associated features
- tinitus
- vertigo (2)
- investigations
- audiogram
- MRI of brain - to exclude acoustic neuroma
- blood studies - to look for systemic causes
- diagnosis
- based on clinical history
- when there is a loss of at least 30 decibels in three connected frequencies (1)
Reference:
(2)sudden hearing loss, ©American Hearing Research Foundation