Current concepts in the management of hearing loss.

The family physician is the logical first step for the hard-of-hearing patient who is seeking aural rehabilitation. Permanent, irreversible, sensorineural hypoacusis is becoming more prevalent. Recent FDA regulations mandate a physician's clearance before the patient can be fitted for a hearing aid. The family physician must be able to advise the patient about modern otologic and audiologic rehabilitative procedures for a sensorineural hearing loss.