Unilateral sensorineural hearing loss in children less than 15 years of age.

1-10 years after the first examination, 56 children below 15 years of age with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss were re-examined with a test-battery consisting of puretone and speech audiometry, stapedius reflex tests, caloric tests, brainstem response audiometry and otoneurological tests. In no case was an acoustic tumour suspected on the basis of the test results. A small progression of the hearing loss occurred in only one ear. In no case did the healthy ears develop hearing loss during the observation period. Diagnostic procedures can in most of such cases be limited to pure-tone audiometry. Follow-up is indicated because some patients require advice considering education and evaluation regarding fitting of a hearing aid.