TY - JOUR
TI - Bilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss caused by alcohol abuse and heroin sniffing
AU - Antonopoulos, S.
AU - Balatsouras, D.G.
AU - Kanakaki, S.
AU - Dona, A.
AU - Spiliopoulou, C.
AU - Giannoulis, G.
JO - Auris Nasus Larynx
PY - 2012
VL - 39
TODO - 3
SP - 305-309
PB - 
SN - 0385-8146
TODO - 10.1016/j.anl.2011.08.001
TODO - antibiotic agent;  magnesium;  prednisolone, abstinence;  adult;  alcohol abuse;  alcohol blood level;  alcohol consumption;  article;  aspiration pneumonia;  audiography;  audiometry;  case report;  coma;  drug reexposure;  evoked brain stem auditory response;  evoked otoacoustic emission;  heroin dependence;  human;  male;  perception deafness;  signal noise ratio;  urinalysis, Adult;  Alcoholism;  Audiometry;  Central Nervous System Depressants;  Ethanol;  Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem;  Hearing Loss, Bilateral;  Hearing Loss, Sudden;  Heroin;  Heroin Dependence;  Humans;  Male;  Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous
TODO - Objective. Acute or chronic heroin abuse has been associated with various central neurologic pathologies and, occasionally, with peripheral nervous system damage. The effect of heroin on hearing has not been adequately documented, although several cases with sudden hearing loss owed to heroin abuse have been reported. We present a young male with bilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss, following heroin sniffing and alcohol consumption. Methods. Our patient underwent a detailed clinical and audiological evaluation, including auditory brainstem responses and otoacoustic emission. Routine laboratory blood tests and imaging studies were performed. Results. The patient was treated with corticosteroids and magnesium, resulting in complete restoration of hearing after one month. Conclusion. Sudden hearing loss owed to heroin abuse is usually curable, following adequate treatment. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
ER -