[Prenatal causes of sensorineural hearing loss in children (author's transl)].

Prenatal causes of sensorineural hearing loss in children may be genetic or nongenetic, the deafness occurs alone or with other abnormalities. In addition, there are prenatal causes of a sensorineural hearing loss which is of delayed onset postnatally. In this review only the better known causes are discussed in which the otorhinolaryngologist should establish a diagnosis early, particularly when the possibility exists of preventing or even treating the hearing loss.