Sudden sensorineural hearing loss — MCCQE Part 1 MCQ

Correct answer: A — Start urgent corticosteroid treatment and refer urgently to otolaryngology or audiology pathway

Start urgent corticosteroid treatment and refer urgently to otolaryngology or audiology pathway is the single best answer because the age, timing, examination findings and investigations in the vignette fit Sudden sensorineural hearing loss better than the alternatives. The most tempting distractor is less appropriate because it either treats a neighbouring presentation, delays a time-critical intervention, or ignores a key discriminator in the stem. The remaining options are suboptimal because they would miss the diagnosis, use an investigation or treatment in the wrong sequence, or fail to address safety and follow-up. Canadian practice should be anchored to Canadian otolaryngology guidance, with attention to acuity, safety-netting and local provincial pathways.

Reference: https://mcc.ca/objectives/medical-experts/