[Sudden deafness].

Abstract

Sensorineural hearing loss with rapid onset occurring without obvious reasons is considered a clinical entity called sudden hearing loss. Such hearing dysfunctions must be rated as severe handicaps, comparable to a sudden loss of vision. Neither the patient nor the physician should regard sudden deafness as a minor incident. An immediate and meticulous search for possible causes is mandatory. As a first step, an otoscopic examination should be carried out, and the hearing loss must be documented by an audiometric evaluation. Further steps of management will be tailored according to the results of these examinations. In some cases, immediate therapeutic measures must be taken to improve the patient's hearing loss. Therefore, an emergency referral of the patient to an otologist is to be recommended in all cases of sudden hearing loss.