Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Sensorineural hearing loss occurring within 3 days

Viral/vascular/autoimmune/no cause found

Management:

Stop ototoxic medications/treat the cause

Oral steroids

Transtympanic steroids (combined with grommet insertion and subsequent steroid drops) – evidence that oral steroids combined with transtympanic steroids yield the best outcome (for primary hearing loss). May also have a use in salvage therapy

MRI IAMs/brain

Blood tests?

Serial audiometry

Hearing aids

Tinnitus advice/counselling

Hearing therapy

No evidence for antivirals