Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss with vertigo

Abstract

The concept of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss appeared after the term "Meniere's disease" was widely used. Until around the middle of the 20 th century, sudden sensorineural hearing loss had been reported together with Meniere's disease. Moreover, sudden sensorineural hearing loss had been reported collectively regardless of the cause of the hearing loss. In 1944, de Kleyn reported a group of patients with sudden loss of function of the octavus-system in apparently normal persons. This was the first report in the literature which collectively described idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss or idiopathic sudden deafness. From around the middle of the 20 th Century, the number of papers regarding idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss gradually increased. Vertigo occurred frequently in patients with severe hearing loss in the high-Tone frequencies or with profound hearing loss throughout the whole range of frequencies. Recently magnetic resonance imaging revealed findings not only in the cochlea but also in the vestibule on the affected side in patients with vertigo. Endolymphatic hydrops was revealed in some patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. These findings may contribute to the understanding of the etiology of sudden hearing loss including the vertigo mechanism. At the present time, however, the border between Meniere's disease and idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss is unclear.