What causes sudden sensorineural hearing loss?
Most of the time the cause is unknown – it is only possible to establish a firm cause of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss in about 15% of cases. The remaining 85% are referred to as idiopathic (with no known cause). In the majority of these idiopathic cases, the hearing is affected in only one ear (unilateral) and will improve spontaneously. It can be tempting, therefore, to adopt a ‘wait-and-see’ policy, but you should be seen by a specialist as soon as possible if you experience Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss, because it is important to establish a diagnosis since treatment may be needed if a specific cause is found. In an attempt to find a reason for these idiopathic cases of hearing loss, two main theories have been advanced. The first theory is that it may be of viral origin, as some viruses are known to damage the hearing, and a viral infection seems to precede the hearing loss in some cases. The second theory is that it may be due to some vascular defect (relating to blood v
