title: Sudden idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss.
abstract: Sudden loss of hearing can be a very frightening experience for the patient and frustrating for the physician. The etiology is often difficult to identify and several theories have been proposed to explain sudden "idiopathic" sensorineural hearing loss. These theories include the viral theory, the vascular theory, and the membrane rupture theory. As the etiology is uncertain, many treatment modalities have been proposed. Steroids are the only effective medical treatment to date. Surgery may be employed when evidence of perilymphatic fistula exists. Controlled studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of proposed treatment modalities.
authors.affiliation: Tulane University Medical School, Dept of Otolaryngology, New Orleans.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Krupala
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Amedee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007759:Labyrinth Diseases / Q000150:complications; D011379:Prognosis; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications