Causes and types of sensorineural hearing loss. Clinical manifestations and basic principles of treatment

Sensorineural hearing loss is a pathological condition in which hearing loss is associated with damage to the structures of the inner ear, the cochlea (cortical organ), a violation of the normal functioning of the prefrontal cochlear nerve or the central part of the auditory analyzer (brain stem and cortical representation of the temporal lobe of the cerebral cortex). In recent years, there has been a steady increase in patients with sensorineural hearing loss, their proportion among the total number of hearing impaired patients is about 70%. This disease is polyethological, with a rather complex pathogenesis of development. Among the main factors contributing to hearing loss are genetic predisposition, perinatal pathology, including hypoxia during childbirth, exposure to infectious and toxic agents and metabolic disorders, traumatic injuries (mechanical, acoustic and barotrauma). Vascular and rheological disorders in the vertebrobasilar system play an important role, since the blood supply to the inner ear is provided by the anterior inferior cerebellar artery. Sudden, acute, and chronic sensorineural hearing loss are distinguished. The diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss is based on a set of examinations that make it possible to verify the diagnosis and determine the level of damage to the sound analyzer. This complex includes conducting audiometric examinations, including using a tuning fork, speech audiometry, and acoustic impedance measurement. If necessary, ultrasound dopplerography of the main vessels of the brain, computed tomography of the temporal bones, and MRI of the brain are prescribed. The complex treatment regimen should include, first of all, the elimination of the etiological factor, as well as the use of antihypoxants, antioxidants and a number of physiotherapy procedures.