A Course of Medical Treatment of Sudden Deafness and Its Effect

Abstract

On the basis of biochemical and clinical examinations, the new therapeutic measure of sudden deafness has been presented according to an assumption that a large proportion of sudden deafness was due to impairment of the inner ear caused by abnormal blood circulation.From January through October in 1963, 34 cases were treated with special importance on the following points: (1) improvement of the inner ear blood circulation, (2) activation of oxidative phosphorylation (by means of an intravenous injection of ATP in large amount) and (3) activation of general metabolism.The results of the above series were compared with thoses of 59 cases treated in the preceding 10 years by the combined use of vasodilators and vitamin B complexes.(1) The new treatment produced a marked effect in 61% of fresh cases and in 71% of sub-fresh cases, while the old treatment only 37% and 35% in each category. Neither method was effective in cases older than 14 days.(2) In cases of total hearing loss, the old treatment produced effect in less than 10% of the cases, while the new treatment raised the efficacy to 40%. However no one patient made a perfect recovery.(3) The presence of vestibular symptom produced no significant difference between the effect of both methods.Relationship between the results of audiometrical examinations and the effect of the new treatment:(1) Observing their hearing curve and prognosis, it was found that the prognosis of cases with slope fall at low frequency and flat curve was relatively good, whereas those with steep fall at high frequency had the worst prognosis.(2) In regard to hearing recovery process, cases making an even recovery over total frequency were observed most often. Generally however, the recovery in high frequency was not good.(3) There were 2 cases of spontaneous recovery among 34 cases. Both of them made a remarkable recovery in low frequency.The relationship between the results of clinical examinations and the effect of the new treatment:(1) In cases where inner ear hemorrhage was suspected the new method gave negligible benefit.(2) The new treatment was relatively effective in cases of hypo-tension. A mildly positive virological test was found in one of 8 fresh cases.