Causes and Types of Sensorineural Hearing Loss. Clinical Manifestations and Basic Principles of Treatment

Abstract

Sensorineural hearing loss is a disorder associated with the damage to the inner ear structures: the cochlea (cortical organ), dysfunctioning of the vestibule-cochlear nerve or the central part of the auditory analyser (brain stem and cortical representation of the cortical temporal lobe). In recent years, there has been a steady increase in ensorineural hearing loss patients; they account for ca. 70% among the total patients with impaired hearing. The disease has numerous causes and a complex pathogenesis. Among the main factors contributing to hearing loss are genetic predisposition, perinatal pathology, including hypoxia at childbirth, exposure to infectious and toxic agents and metabolic disorders, injuries (mechanical, acoustic and altitude trauma). Vascular-rheological disorders in the vertebro-basilar system play an important part because blood is supplied to the inner ear from the anterior inferior cerebellar artery. There are sudden, acute and chronic sensorineural hearing loss. The ensorineural hearing loss isdiagnosed by examinations that allow to verify the diagnosis and to determine the sound analyser damage level. This complex includes audiometric examinations, including the tuning fork examination, speech audiometry, and acoustic impedancemetry. If necessary, ultrasound Doppler imaging of the main blood vessels of the brain, computed tomography of the temporal bones, and MRI of the brain are prescribed. The pattern of comprehensive treatment should include, first of all, the elimination of the disease cause and anti-hypoxic drugs, anti-oxidants and a number of physiotherapy procedures.