title: [Progressive hearing loss--pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, therapy].
abstract: Progressive sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is still a challenge to the otorhinolaryngologist. It can be solved only by a systematic and interdisciplinary approach to the patient and his disease. Most often an acute onset is observed with a non-linear, sometimes dramatic progress to chronicity and complete deafness. Cardiovascular and rheologic diseases, hereditary disorders, immunological phenomena, hormonal and metabolic derailments, infections, environmental causes like noise, ototoxic drugs and industrial substances and systemic maladies must be included in the diagnostic reflections. Otopathy is an idiopathic hearing loss which cannot be classed with the above mentioned disorders. Wherever possible a causal therapy should be carried out. Symptomatic therapeutic concepts include rheologic medications, corticosteroids or, with all reservation, cytotoxic drugs. Hearing aids should be prescribed in close relation to the dynamic deterioration of the hearing. The timely cochlear implant operation stands at the end of the therapeutic scale.
authors.affiliation: Hals-Nasen-Ohrenklinik, Medizinischen Hochschule Hannover.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lenarz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schönermark
mesh_terms: D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003056:Cochlear Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team
vernacular_title: Die progrediente Hörminderung--Pathophysiologie, Differentialdiagnostik, Therapie.