[Up to date: therapy of sudden hearing loss]

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is thought to be of different origin. Disturbances of microcirculation, autoimmune pathology and viral infection are among the most likely causes. The shape of the puretone audiogram can be a useful clue to its origin. Following is a description of five different forms of sudden hearing loss, its suspected pathogenesis and different therapeutic strategies recommended for the treatment of sudden hearing loss.