Abstract
Treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) consists of administration of blood flow-promoting drugs with or without the addition of glucocorticoids. General guidelines based on scientific data do not currently exist. To investigate the effect of glucocorticoids on the treatment of SSNHL. Academic medical center. We retrospectively analyzed the audiograms of 603 patients with SSNHL: 301 patients (cared for between January 1, 1986, and December 31, 1991) received intravenous blood flow-promoting drugs without glucocorticoids and 302 patients (cared for between January 1, 1992, and December 31, 1998) received intravenous blood flow-promoting drugs with glucocorticoids (intravenous +/- oral application). The age distribution of patients with SSNHL in lower, middle, and higher frequencies was similar in both groups. Patients with SSNHL in lower and middle frequencies (250-2000 Hz) who received glucocorticoids (prednisolone-21-hydrogen-succinate) showed significantly better recovery of hearing levels compared with those who did not receive glucocorticoids (P<.05). There was no significant difference at higher frequencies between the 2 groups. Patients with SSNHL throughout all frequencies (pancochlear hearing loss) who received glucocorticoids also had significantly better recovery of hearing levels compared with those who received blood flow-promoting drugs alone (P<.05). Also, patients with elevated blood sedimentation rates had better improvement of their hearing levels after receiving glucocorticoids. Administration of glucocorticoids should be recommended for treatment of patients with SSNHL. In particular, patients with SSNHL in the lower and middle frequency range and pancochlear hearing loss have significantly better recovery of hearing levels.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Archives of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
