The etiology of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. A review of the literature.

Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (ISSHL) is defined and the literature on the etiology of ISSHL is reviewed. Existing hypotheses on the etiology of ISSHL are judged on experimental, clinical, laboratory, radiological and post mortem histological evidence. It is concluded that a viral pathogenesis of ISSHL needs further attention in therapy and research.