I'm by-no-means an expert, but...
It sounds like sun scorch and lack of water to me, but a pic would be helpful.
Otherwise, I suppose that if something were eating at the roots, that would cause the hosta to have difficulty taking up water.

sounds like summer dormancy from LACK OF WATER.. and heat ...

or rot... pull on the browning part ... if is comes out easily .... sniff it.. YOU WILL KNOW ROT ...

report back

ken

Thanks! this one i transplanted, as it was getting too much sun on the other side of porch. My other hosta (not sure name- has green leaves and tall purple flower) came back this year 10x the size of last year, and I'm in love.
So i transplanted this one, hoping for better results- it is the kind with white -tinged leaves. I'll try giving him more water. So is that root or crown rot and the leaves don't turn brown....white, then pull out easily, as they are dead. So if there's an awful smell, that is rot? I'll check it out and get back to ya.

No rot, as there was no odor - I guess it's "summer dormancy." I will keep giving it extra water, and next summer hope it comes back a little stronger.