AbstractMany factors can cause inner ear injury, such as noise exposure, chemicals, viral infection, and radiation. The main pathological manifestations of inner ear injury are local hypoxia-ischemia, micro-trauma, and an increased level of reactive oxygen species and inflammatory mediators. The contribution of the inflammatory response to the mediation of cochlear and vestibular pathologies has received increasing attention in recent years. Aseptic inflammation can devastate audition and balance, which can lead to many typical clinical inner ear diseases. In this review, we will discuss the most pertinent and recent research on inflammatory mechanisms in inner ear injury. We will also discuss the pathophysiology of some common and significant ear diseases, such as sudden sensorineural hearing loss, age-related hearing loss, noise-induced hearing loss, and Meniere’s disease.
