TY - JOUR
TI - Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: prognostic factors
AU - Xenellis, J.
AU - Karapatsas, I.
AU - Papadimitriou, N.
AU - Nikolopoulos,
AU - T.
AU - Maragoudakis, P.
AU - Tzagkaroulakis, M.
AU - Ferekidis, E.
JO - JOURNAL OF LARYNGOLOGY AND OTOLOGY
PY - 2006
VL - 120
TODO - 9
SP - 718-724
PB - Cambridge University Press
SN - 0022-2151
TODO - 10.1017/S0022215106002362
TODO - hearing loss, sensorineural; hearing loss, sudden; audiometry, evoked
response; prognosis
TODO - Objectives: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) remains a challenge
for the clinician. In the majority of cases, no definite cause can be
found and the prognosis is variable.
Methods: The present study assessed 114 patients suffering from
idiopathic SSHL, with regard to the prognostic value of demographic,
epidemiologic, neurotologic and audiometric factors. In addition, the
relationship between the identification of wave V in auditory brainstem
responses and the final hearing outcome was investigated. All patients
received 75 mg/day intravenous prednisolone, divided into three daily
doses, for 10 days, with gradual tapering of the dose over the next 10
days.
Results: The results (after one year follow up) revealed the following
factors to be related to a better hearing outcome: younger age; male
sex; less time elapsed between the onset of hearing loss and the
beginning of treatment; and an upward-sloping or cupeloid audiogram
contour. The detection of wave V early in recovery and within the first
month of medical treatment might also constitute a significant
favourable factor in respect to hearing recovery.
Conclusions: The present study revealed that there are certain factors
that affect prognosis in idiopathic SSHL. This is very important in
counselling patients and may affect current clinical practice.
ER -