HEARING-LOSS - A PLAN FOR INDIVIDUALIZED MANAGEMENT

Because some cases of hearing loss demand urgent attention, an approac h to patients with hearing loss should be adopted in the primary care setting that allows for systematic institution of an individualized an d appropriate treatment plan. Workup is enhanced by categorizing the h earing loss as acute or chronic and conductive or sensorineural. The R inne and Weber tuning fork tests are the most important tools in disti nguishing between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. The patie nt history and otologic examination also provide diagnostic clues. Tre atment depends on the cause and the type of hearing loss.