Viral Etiology of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Historical Development and Current Evidence.
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
- 2Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
- 3Hubei Province Clinical Research Center for Deafness and Vertigo, Wuhan 430022, China.
- 4Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Development and Regeneration, Wuhan 430022, China.
Abstract
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is an otological emergency with complex and heterogeneous etiologies, and most cases remain unexplained and are therefore classified as idiopathic. Viral infection has long been considered an important potential cause of SSNHL; however, the mechanisms underlying virus-associated hearing loss and the causal relationship between viral infection and SSNHL have not been fully elucidated. Current evidence suggests that viruses may induce acute hearing loss through direct invasion of the inner ear, reactivation of latent viruses, immune-mediated injury, and cellular stress and inflammatory responses. This review describes the major viruses associated with SSNHL and their epidemiological and clinical characteristics; summarizes evidence from serological testing, molecular virology, imaging, temporal bone histopathology, and animal studies; and discusses recent advances in the pathogenic mechanisms, etiological diagnosis, and antiviral treatment of virus-associated SSNHL. This review aims to systematically clarify the current evidence and controversies surrounding the viral etiology of SSNHL and to provide a reference for etiological identification, patient stratification, and targeted treatment of virus-associated SSNHL.
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BibTeX
@article{zhao2026viral,
title = {{Viral Etiology of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Historical Development and Current Evidence.}},
author = {Shujie Zhao and Xiaozhou Liu and Xinyu Shi and Zhengdong Zhao and Yu Sun},
journal = {Viruses},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/v18101097},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42944017},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Viral Etiology of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Historical Development and Current Evidence.
AU - Shujie Zhao
AU - Xiaozhou Liu
AU - Xinyu Shi
AU - Zhengdong Zhao
AU - Yu Sun
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/03
JO - Viruses
DO - 10.3390/v18101097
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42944017
AB - Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is an otological emergency with complex and heterogeneous etiologies, and most cases remain unexplained and are therefore classified as idiopathic. Viral infection has long been considered an important potential cause of SSNHL; however, the mechanisms underlying virus-associated hearing loss and the causal relationship between viral infection and SSNHL have not been fully elucidated. Current evidence suggests that viruses may induce acute hearing loss through direct invasion of the inner ear, reactivation of latent viruses, immune-mediated injury, and cellular stress and inflammatory responses. This review describes the major viruses associated with SSNHL and their epidemiological and clinical characteristics; summarizes evidence from serological testing, molecular virology, imaging, temporal bone histopathology, and animal studies; and discusses recent advances in the pathogenic mechanisms, etiological diagnosis, and antiviral treatment of virus-associated SSNHL. This review aims to systematically clarify the current evidence and controversies surrounding the viral etiology of SSNHL and to provide a reference for etiological identification, patient stratification, and targeted treatment of virus-associated SSNHL.
SN - 1999-4915
ER -