[Treatment of sudden deafness]

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss can be accompanied by sensation of aural fullness or pressure, and tinnitus. External auditory canal, middle ear and neurological status are normal. Hearing of speech and whispered voice are impaired, and tuning fork tests show a sensorineural hearing loss. Decreased air and bone conduction hearing thresholds are observed in pure tone audiometry. An urgent consultation of an otolaryngologist is indicated. Systemic corticosteroids are usually applied as a brief course. Follow-up audiogram is necessary.