Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Primary Care Update

Abstract

The primary care physician's role in recognizing sudden sensorineural hearing (SSNHL) loss and delivering initial treatment is critical in the management of the syndrome. This role involves recognizing its clinical symptoms, distinguishing it from conductive hearing loss with the Weber tuning fork or the Rauch hum test, and urgent administration of high dose oral corticosteroids. Diagnosis and treatment should not be delayed for audiometric testing or referral to otolaryngology. This paper provides an update on the initial evaluation and treatment of this syndrome based on the literature and clinical guideline recommendations.

Keywords: Corticosteroid; Dexamethasone; Glucocorticoid; Intratympanic steroid infiltration; Mineralocorticoid; Prednisone; Primary care; Steroid; Sudden sensorineural hearing loss.