Sudden-onset sensorineural hearing loss

Question 1

What is the main cause of sudden-onset sensorineural hearing loss?

Answer 1

Idiopathic

Question 2

What needs to be excluded in someone presenting with SSNHL?

Answer 2

vestibular schwannoma.

Question 3

What scan is usually done to exclude a vestibular schwannoma in someone presenting with SSNHL?

Answer 3

MRI

Question 4

What is SSNHL important to differentiate from?

Answer 4

Conductive hearing loss

Question 5

What is the immediate management of someone presenting with SSNHL?

Answer 5

Urgent referral to ENT (within 24 hours)

Question 6

What is the medical management of someone presenting with SSNHL?

Answer 6

High dose corticosteroids

Question 7

What medication would you give someone with sudden-onset sensorineural hearing loss?

Answer 7

7 days oral prednisolone

Question 8

What results from ear Weber’s and Rinnes would indicate SSNHL?

Answer 8

Positive Rinne test (AC>BC) bilaterally
Sound lateralizing to the left ear on Weber test

Question 9

What results from ear Weber’s and Rinnes would indicate SSNHL?

Answer 9

Positive Rinne test (AC>BC) bilaterally
Sound lateralizing to the unaffeted ear on Weber test