Dynamic sensorineural hearing loss: implications for audiologists: case reports

Although many persons with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) seeking hearing care do not have active ear disease, audiologists must appreciate the potentially dynamic and treatable nature of some etiologies of SNHL. This is particularly important now as audiologists are increasingly employed in private practice or other clinical settings that may serve as the point of entry for hearing care. In this paper, we review a variety of clinical entities affecting newborn infants, children, and adults that are associated with dynamic SNHL. Using a case report format, we illustrate treatment-related changes in SNHL, emphasizing the audiologist's role in patient management.