BACKGROUND Sudden onset hearing loss (SOHL) has a number of causes, ranging from the simple and reversible to the profound and permanent. The sequelae of a sudden loss of hearing can be significant. OBJECTIVE This article seeks to address the various aetiologies of SOHL, how they can be diagnosed at the earliest opportunity, and outlines the methods of investigation and management. DISCUSSI...

Introduction: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is an important otological emergency. Up to 90% of the cases are idiopathic. Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is an extremely rare identifiable cause as it only represents 0.5% of all strokes.   Case Report: In this paper, an unusual case of bilateral SSNHL secondary to bilateral CVT with rapid and complete recovery is reported. The patie...

OBJECTIVE To determine whether middle ear cholesteatoma is associated with, sensorineural hearing loss, and whether patient age, cholesteatoma growth pattern, or, air bone gap size contribute to inner ear impairment. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional comparative. SETTING A tertiary hospital. PATIENTS The subjects were 115 patients with middle ear cholesteatoma in one ear, and normal video-otos...

The objective of the study was to examine the aetiology of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in a paediatric population presenting to the National Centre of Medical Genetics. A retrospective chart review from 1998 to 2006. One hundred and twenty nine children were investigated for SNHL. The average age of diagnosis of hearing loss was 36 months. The degree of hearing loss was mild in 8 children...

CONTEXT Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss has been treated with oral corticosteroids for more than 30 years. Recently, many patients' symptoms have been managed with intratympanic steroid therapy. No satisfactory comparative effectiveness study to support this practice exists. OBJECTIVE To compare the effectiveness of oral vs intratympanic steroid to treat sudden sensorineural hear...

OBJECTIVE To investigate saccular function using vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in children with congenital or early acquired sensorineural hearing loss. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING Pediatric tertiary referral center. PATIENTS Twenty-three children with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (severe to profound in 22 cases, moderate in 1 case) underwent evaluation of s...

OBJECTIVE To elucidate clinical antecedents of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in very preterm infants. DESIGN Case-control study. SUBJECTS Fifteen children < 33 weeks' gestation with significant SNHL born between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 1994, detected within 9 months of birth, and 30 matched control children. METHODOLOGY Perinatal variables in the two groups were compared using ...