Treatment of sensorineural hearing loss.

Of the 25 million people who are hearing impaired, 85% suffer from sensorineural hearing loss (SNL). In the past decade, the identification and treatment of SNL have evolved from futile efforts to active intervention. This paper identifies nine forms of inner ear disorders causing SNL for which medical/surgical treatment is available. Physicians must realize that, with appropriate diagnosis and treatment, hearing nerve loss can have a satisfactory outcome.