SENSORINEURAL HEARING-LOSS AND ULCERATIVE-COLITIS

The association of sensorineural hearing loss and ulcerative colitis i s well documented and it is speculated that this is autoimmune in orig in. A case in a 12-year-old boy is described, that initially responded to steroid therapy, but four years later resulted in bilateral, profo und sensorineural hearing loss in spite of good control of his bowel d isease. Immunological tests may provide a clue as to the aetiology of suspected cases of autoimmune inner ear disease. Immediate treatment w ith steroids with or without immunosuppressive therapy is essential as delay may lead to irreversible hearing loss.