The commonly-seen syndromes of sudden deafness include attack by wind and heat, liver fire stirring the upper, stagnation of phlegm and fire as well as blood stasis due to qi stagnation. The syndrome of attack by wind and heat is characterized by onset associated with common cold and short course of illness. Treatment should lie in dispelling wind and dispersing the lung. The syndrome of liver fire stirring the upper is marked by onset associated with emotional changes. Treatment should aim at clearing away heat from the liver and purging fire. The syndrome of stagnation of phlegm and fire has the features of frequent cough and expectoration as well as yellowish and greasy fur. Treatment should include purging fire and resolving phlegm. The syndrome of blood stasis due to qi stagnation shows the characteristics of cloudiness of the tympanic membrane with white spots in the patients and inapparent general symptoms.