Prevention
Presbycusis is the leading cause of SNHL and is progressive and nonpreventable, and at this time, we do not have either somatic or gene therapy to counter heredity-related SNHL. But other causes of acquired SNHL are largely preventable, especially nosocusis type causes. This would involve avoiding environmental noise, and traumatic noise such as rock concerts and nightclubs with loud music. Use of noise attenuation measures like ear plugs is an alternative, as well as learning about the noise levels one is exposed to. Currently, several accurate sound level measurement apps exist. Reducing exposure time can also help manage risk from loud exposures. Treatment
Treatment modalities fall into three categories: pharmacological, surgical, and management. As SNHL is a physiologic degradation and considered permanent, there are as of this time, no approved or recommended treatments. There have been significant advances in identification of human deafness genes and elucidation of their cellular mechanisms as well as their physiological function in mice. Nevertheless, pharmacological treatment options are very limited and clinically unproven. Such pharmaceutical treatments as are employed are palliative rather than curative, and addressed to the underlying cause if one can be identified, in order to avert progressive damage. Profound or total hearing loss may be amenable to management by cochlear implants, which stimulate cochlear nerve endings directly. A cochlear implant is surgical implantation of a battery powered electronic medical device in the inner ear.
Acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma) – benign neoplasm of Schwann cells affecting the vestibulocochlear nerve
Meningioma – benign tumour of the pia and arachnoid mater
Ménières disease – causes sensorineural hearing loss in the low frequency range (125 Hz to 1000 Hz). Ménières disease is characterized by sudden attacks of vertigo, lasting minutes to hours preceded by tinnitus, aural fullness, and fluctuating hearing loss. It is relatively rare and commonly over diagnosed. Bacterial meningitis e.g. pneumococcal, meningococcal, haemophilus influenzae may damage the cochlea – Hearing loss is one of the most common after-effects of bacterial meningitis. It has been estimated that 30% of bacterial meningitis cases result in mild to profound hearing loss. Children are most at risk: seventy percent of all bacterial meningitis occurs in young children under the age of five. Viral
AIDS and ARC patients frequently experience auditory system anomalies. Mumps(epidemic parotitis) may result in profound sensorineural hearing loss (90 dB or more), unilaterally (one ear) or bilaterally (both ears). Measles may result in auditory nerve damage but more commonly gives a mixed (sensorineural plus conductive) hearing loss, and can be bilaterally. Ramsay Hunt syndrome type II (herpes zoster oticus)
Bacterial
Syphilis is commonly transmitted from pregnant women to their fetuses, and about a third of the infected children will eventually become deaf. Ototoxic and neurotoxic drugs and chemicals
Some over-the-counter as well as prescription drugs and certain industrial chemicals are ototoxic. Exposure to these can result in temporary or permanent hearing loss. Some medications cause irreversible damage to the ear, and are limited in their use for this reason.