Sensorineural hearing loss: practice question

A ENT question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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ENT · Sensorineural hearing loss

Sample item

A 35-year-old woman wakes up with hearing loss in her left ear, with a 40 dB sensorineural loss over three or more contiguous frequencies on audiometry. Otoscopy is normal and there is no vertigo. Which treatment, started early, is the standard first-line option?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Systemic corticosteroids

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (a loss of at least 30 dB over three contiguous frequencies within 72 hours) is treated as an emergency with corticosteroids, given early, with intratympanic steroids as rescue. Most cases are idiopathic, and an MRI is later done to exclude a retrocochlear lesion.

Option by option

  • A. Stapedotomy

    Stapedotomy treats the conductive loss of otosclerosis.

  • B. Tympanostomy tube insertion

    Tympanostomy tubes drain middle ear effusion in conductive loss, and this loss is sensorineural.

  • C. Oral amoxicillin-clavulanate

    Antibiotics have no role since there is no evidence of infection of the middle ear.

  • D. Systemic corticosteroids (correct)

    Correct. Early steroids improve the chance of recovery in idiopathic sudden hearing loss.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More ENT questions

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is D, Systemic corticosteroids. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (a loss of at least 30 dB over three contiguous frequencies within 72 hours) is treated as an emergency with corticosteroids, given early, with intratympanic steroids as rescue.

Why is "Stapedotomy" not the answer?

Stapedotomy treats the conductive loss of otosclerosis.

Why is "Tympanostomy tube insertion" not the answer?

Tympanostomy tubes drain middle ear effusion in conductive loss, and this loss is sensorineural.

Why is "Oral amoxicillin-clavulanate" not the answer?

Antibiotics have no role since there is no evidence of infection of the middle ear.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Sensorineural hearing loss in ENT. Most cases are idiopathic, and an MRI is later done to exclude a retrocochlear lesion.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Sensorineural hearing loss?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.