The study examines the role of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) caused by damage to cochlear hair cells, spiral neurons or the auditory center, including drug-induced, noise-induced and other deafness. The molecular mechanisms of SNHL include apoptosis, oxidative stress, immune inflammation, and metabolic disturbances. Hair cells and spiral neurons do not regenerate, so there is no effective treatment for this damage. TCM regulates these mechanisms and shows significant efficacy in the treatment of SNHL, as confirmed by numerous studies. The reviewed Chinese literature analyzes the pathogenesis of SNHL and the achievements of TCM. The article provides new knowledge for the formulation and application of TCM in SNHL and supports the development of new clinical drugs.