Introduction Loss of hearing after having previous auditory functioning Etiologies presbycusis age-related hearing loss onset in the 5th-6th decade predominantly a high frequency hearing loss drug-induced ototoxicity loop diuretics aspirin aminoglycosides cisplatin lymphadenopathy may result in serous otitis media bacterial meningitis most common cause of hearing loss in children meningitis patients should have their hearing tested following bacterial meningitis otosclerosis one of the most common cuases of hearing loss in adults caused by fusion of otic bones resulting in conductive hearing loss tympanic membrane rupture blunt/penetrating trauma barotrauma etiologies include airplanes gunshots diving temporal bone fracture malignancy ex.) acoustic neuroma multiple sclerosis pseudotumor cerebri sarcoidosis Presentation Symptoms gradual to subacute to acute hearing loss may or may not be associated with vestibular symptoms Physical exam Rhine and Weber tests to determine conductive vs sensorineural hearing loss Rinne test tunning fork placed on the mastoid process normal: air (AC) > bone conduction (BC) Weber test tunning fork placed in the middle of the forehead Normal sound should be of equal intensity in both ears Conduction deafness Rinne: BC > AC (in damaged ear) Weber: lateralization to damaged ear Sensorineural deafness Rinne: AC > BC (in damaged ear) Weber lateralizes to healthy ear Evaluation Audiometry Brain imaging Treatment Supportive to surgical depending on cause