[Sudden deafness (author's transl)].

"Sudden deafness" is understood as an instant loss of the hearing ability meaning a sensorineural hearing loss of one or both ears which can lead to total deafness. Suitable measures for treatment of sudden deafness are vasodilatation by infusions of Complamin (Lamuran, Dusodril, Rheomacrodex), blockage of the ganglion stellatum, hospitalizations of the patient to protect him from psychogenic stress factors and prescription of sedatives. From 1973 to 1977 84 patients with sudden deafness were treated at the ear, nose and throat department of the Landeskrankenanstalten Salzburg. Only 2 patients were under 20 years of age, 53 (62.3%) were between 20 and 50, and 29 (34.5%) over 50 years old. In 60.6% of the cases an improvement of the hearing ability by 20 db to normal could be achieved, 39.4% did not show any positive therapeutic results.