Sudden sensorineural deafness and hormone replacement therapy.

Whilst the oral contraceptive pill (OC) has been implicated on a number of occasions as a cause of sensorineural hearing loss, there are no published reports linking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to otological symptoms. A case of sensorineural loss with tinnitus following commencement of HRT is described, followed by a discussion outlining the fundamental differences between the OC and HRT, thus explaining why a vascular aetiology is unlikely. It is hypothesized that otological symptoms in such cases may be due to the effect of oestrogens on electrolyte balance disturbing inner ear function and also a direct effect on the auditory pathways mediated in part by alterations in neurotransmitter receptor concentrations.