Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease

Autoimmune inner ear disease is a relatively rare disorder of the auditory system. The main finding is the presence of bilateral, fluctuating, and progressive sensorineural hearing loss. Vestibular symptoms may also be present. The prevalence of autoimmune ear disease is less than 5 cases per 100,000 people. Diagnosis is based on the patient’s medical history, physical examination, blood tests, imaging studies, and evaluation of response to steroids and immunosuppressive drugs.