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Semin Hear 2010; 31(4): 313-325
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1268032
© Thieme Medical Publishers

Unilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Adults: Etiology and Management

Courtney C.J Voelker1 , Richard A. Chole1 , 2 , 3
  • 1Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
  • 2Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
  • 3Fay and Carl Simons Center for the Study of the Biology of Hearing and Central Institute for the Deaf, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
07 December 2010 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) affects people at any age, can present as an acute and/or progressive process, and can range from mild to profound. Although the great majority of cases have an unknown cause, the known causes of unilateral SNHL need to be excluded including neoplasms, stroke, demyelinating and autoimmune diseases, infection, perilymphatic fistula, and Ménière's disease. The majority of individuals with idiopathic sudden SNHL will recover complete or partial hearing. However, there is a small subset of patients who remain with unilateral hearing impairment, which can result in communication difficulties. The goal of this article is to present the etiology and medical management of unilateral SNHL in the adult population.

KEYWORDS

Baha (bone-anchored hearing aid) - CROS (contralateral routing of the signal) - single-sided deafness - unilateral sensorineural hearing loss

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APPENDIX A

  • Embolism: Occlusion of a blood vessel by an embolus an abnormal particle (i.e., blood clot or air bubble) that circulates in the blood.

  • Horner's syndrome: Damage to the cervical sympathetic trunk causing a constellation of symptoms including ptosis (drooping eyelid), miosis (small pupil), and anhidrosis (decreased sweating on the affected side of the face).

  • Idiopathic: Arising from an unknown cause.

  • Meningogenic: Of or originating from the meninges (three membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord).

  • Otogenic: Of or originating within the ear.

  • Parenteral: Drug administration by means other than through the alimentary tract (as by intramuscular or intravenous injection).

  • Seroconversion: The development of detectable antibodies in the blood directed against an infectious agent.

  • Serous: Pertaining to serum; thin and watery.

  • Suppurative: Relating to suppuration—pus: a fluid product of inflammation.

  • Thrombosis: The formation or presence of a thrombus (a clot of coagulated blood attached at the site of its formation) in a blood vessel.

  • Titer: Concentration of a substance in solution or the strength of such a substance determined by titration.

Richard A Chole

Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine

Campus Box 8115, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110

Email: rchole@wustl.edu

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