ear, nose, and throat disorders
Sudden Hearing Loss
Key Points
Most cases of sudden hearing loss are idiopathic. A few cases have an obvious cause (eg, major trauma, acute infection, drugs). A very few cases represent unusual manifestations of treatable disorders. Evaluation includes audiometry, CT and MRI, and other tests for suspected causes. Treatment focuses on known causes, and corticosteroids are given in cases of idiopathic sudden hearing loss. 