Sensorineural Hearing Loss In Adults Research Articles

Prevalence of Noise Induced Hearing Loss among the Textile Workers

Background: Noise remains a common environmental pollutant in industrial workplaces and has been a constant issue since the industrial revolution. Occupational hearing loss is the dominant cause of preventable sensorineural hearing loss in adults. The degree of NIHL is determined by intensity, duration of exposure, spectral characteristics of the noise, and individual susceptibility Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among theNassa Taipei Textile Mills Ltd. and Nassa Taipei Spinners Ltd in kachpur,Narayangonj.200 Textile workers aged from 18 to 50 years were recruited in this study. Study subjects were interviewed by trained data collector through a structured questionnaire. Environmental sound intensity level in various departments were measured using a sound level meter (Quest sound level meter, Oconomowoc WISCONSIN. Model no: 2400). Pure Tone Audiometry was done by pure tone clinical audiometer (KAMPLEX Audiometer, Model no: AC 30; Calibrated by P.C. Werth Limited in October 2004) with a frequency range of 125Hz to 8000Hzand sound intensity levels of between -10dB to 120dB was used to test each ear of the subject separately. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program version 26. Results: Out of 200 Textile workers whose were recruited in this study, 138(69%) were males and predominant age group was 18 to 27 years (54.5%). The prevalence of NIHL was found to be 14.5%. The most common age group was 28 to 37 years and positive association (p<.05) between hearing loss and long working hours. Non-user of PPD had little bit higher among the workers who developed hearing loss. Conclusion: The prevalence of NIHL was higher in textile industry workers. This suggests the need to provide protective gear to workers in stations generating loud noise. The prevalence was higher in male, those who experienced prolong exposure and not to used PPD. Bangladesh J Otorhinolaryngology 2023; 29(2): 89-95

Comparing the use of high dose to standard dose corticosteroids for the treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in adults – A systematic review

ObjectiveIdiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is typically treated with systematic or intratympanic corticosteroids. Current ENT-UK guidelines suggest treatment with a dose of oral prednisolone 1mg/kg/day for 7 days then tapered over a further 5 days. However, there is no consensus on the effectiveness of corticosteroids for idiopathic SSNHL and no universally accepted optimal regime. The objective of this systematic review was to examine the effect of high dose versus standard dose corticosteroids in the management of idiopathic SSNHL. MethodsA systematic review was performed of all published data related to patients with idiopathic SSNHL who were treated acutely with high dose corticosteroid therapy. Articles were included that reported data on high dose, or comparing standard dose to high dose, oral or intravenous corticosteroid therapy for the treatment of patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Articles where patients received only combination treatment with intra-tympanic steroid were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool and the ROB-2 tool. ResultsSix studies were included in the analysis, representing 919 patients. Two prospective single-arm studies of patients with SSNHL treated with a high dose steroid regime found mean hearing level improved (79.5dB to 42.3dB) and 45.8% of idiopathic patients had complete recovery of hearing. Three retrospective case-series comparing high dose to standard dose regimes found a significantly greater improvement in hearing level (38.3dB vs. 48.8dB, P = 0.042), a greater mean absolute hearing gain (44.4dB vs. 15.1dB) and a significantly higher rate of functionally relevant recovery (35.7% vs. 7.4%, P = 0.035) in patients treated with high dose regimes. The single included prospective randomised trial found no statistically significant difference in mean hearing level or speech discrimination score between patients treated with high dose pulse steroids or a standard dose regime. ConclusionsOur systematic review found the reported outcomes in the literature in this area to be mixed, with some studies suggesting a greater degree of hearing recovery with a high dose regime but others suggesting no difference. The overall quality of the available evidence was deemed to be low, with the studies at moderate risk of bias.

Association between individual, household, and area-level socioeconomic status indicators and sensorineural hearing loss in adults in southwest Iran: a population-based study.

Hearing loss is the fourth most common chronic disease, but studies on the relationship between hearing loss and socioeconomic factors are limited. We aimed to examine the association between hearing loss and socioeconomic factors among 35-70 year adults in southwest Iran. This population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the baseline of Hoveyzeh cohort study in adults aged 35-70 in southwest Iran between 2017 and 2021. Information on socioeconomic factors, demographic characteristics, comorbidities, family history of hearing loss, and noise exposure was collected. We assessed the relationship between three levels of socioeconomic factors (individual, household, and area level) with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Multiple logistic regression was used to adjust the potential confounders. Among a total of 1,365 assessed participants, 485 patients were diagnosed as having hearing loss, and the other 880 individuals were diagnosed without hearing loss, which is considered the case and the control group, respectively. At the individual level of socioeconomic, the odds of having hearing loss in the participants with high school education and diploma, [OR = 0.51 (95%CI:0.28-0.92)], and the individuals with university education [OR = 0.44 (95%CI:0.22-0.87)] were significantly lower than the illiterate participants. At the household socioeconomic level, the odds of having hearing loss were lower for those with poor [OR = 0.63 (95%CI:0.41-0.97)] and moderate [OR = 0.62 (95%CI:0.41-0.94)] wealth status vs. those with the poorest wealth status. In the area level socioeconomic, although the odds of hearing loss in the residents of affluent areas were slightly lower than the residents of deprived areas, there was no significant difference among the groups. The individuals with hearing loss may have insufficient education and income.

Blood tests as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in adults: a systematic review.

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is considered idiopathic in up to 90 per cent of cases. This study explored the role of blood tests as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Two researchers filtered 34 papers into the final review. This review was pre-registered on the Prospero database and conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines. Raised inflammatory markers are almost universal in sudden sensorineural hearing loss, suggesting an inflammatory or autoimmune process. The most useful biomarkers are neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio and fibrinogen level. Focused investigations should be deployed on a case-by-case basis to identify underlying metabolic, infective and autoimmune conditions. A full blood count and coagulation screen (fibrinogen) is recommended in all cases of sudden sensorineural hearing loss. These are inexpensive, accessible and offer as much diagnostic and prognostic information as any other biomarker. There is emerging evidence regarding specific biomarkers for sudden sensorineural hearing loss prognosis, with heat shock protein-70, anti-endothelial cell antibody and prestin demonstrating potential; investigation of their validity through prospective, controlled research is recommended.

Clinical Impact of Genetic Diagnosis of Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Adults.

Adult genetic sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) may be underestimated. The diagnosis of genetic hearing loss is challenging, given its extreme genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity, particularly in adulthood. This study evaluated the utility of next-generation sequencing (NGS) in the etiological diagnosis of adult-onset SNHL. Adults (>16 yr old) with SNHL were recruited at the Otolaryngology Department at Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital (Spain). Environmental factors, acoustic trauma, endolymphatic hydrops, and age-related hearing loss were excluding criteria. An NGS gene panel was used, including 196 genes (OTOgenics v3) or 229 genes (OTOgenics v4) related to syndromic and nonsyndromic hearing loss. Sixty-five patients were included in the study (average age at the onset of SNHL, 41 yr). Fifteen pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants considered to be causative were found in 15 patients (23% diagnostic yield) in TECTA (4), KCNQ4 (3), GJB2 (2), ACTG1 (1), COL2A1 (1), COCH (1), COCH/COL2A1 (1), STRC (1), and ABHD12 (1). Three patients had syndromic associations (20% of patients with genetic diagnosis) that had not been previously diagnosed (two Stickler type I and one polyneuropathy, hearing loss, ataxia, retinitis pigmentosa, cataract syndrome). Seven variants of unknown significance were found in COL11A1 (1), GSMDE (2), DNTM1 (1), SOX10 (1), EYA4 (1), and TECTA (1). NGS gene panels can provide diagnostic yields greater than 20% for adult SNHL, with a significant proportion of variant of unknown significance that could potentially contribute to increasing diagnostic output. Identifying a genetic cause enables genetic counseling, provides prognostic information and can reveal unrecognized syndromes contributing to an accurate management of their associated manifestations.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

To evaluate the associations between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy on SNHL. Ovid Medline, Embase, and Scopus databases. A systematic search was done for studies investigating relationships between OSA and SNHL in adults, with manual searches for additional references. The final update was done on December 22, 2021. The Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Nonrandomized Studies was applied for quality assessments. The 20 included studies had a total of 34,442 participants (66% male; mean age, 46.6 years). The OSA group had a significantly worse mean hearing threshold level (HTL) than the control group for midfrequency ranges (500, 1000, 2000 Hz; mean difference, 4.00 dB; 95% CI, 2.40-5.61) and high-frequency ranges (4000, 8000 Hz; mean difference, 6.24 dB; 95% CI, 2.99-9.49). An association between OSA and SNHL was found. When compared with controls, patients with OSA had an odds ratio of 1.52 (95% CI, 1.12-2.06) for midfrequency hearing impairment and 1.19 (95% CI, 1.05-1.34) for high-frequency hearing impairment. However, we did not find significant improvements in midfrequency HTL after CPAP therapy. HTL was significantly poorer among participants with OSA (especially in severe cases) than non-OSA controls. Studies on patients with OSA with SNHL treated with CPAP did not show significant improvements in midfrequency HTL. Further studies are warranted on these issues.

Epidemiological study of unilateral sensorineural hearing loss in adults

Epidemiological study of unilateral sensorineural hearing loss in adults

Characterization of Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Adult Patients With Sickle Cell Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

To determine the prevalence of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) attributable to sickle cell disease (SCD) in the global adult population and to identify factors contributing to its severity. Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. We performed a comprehensive literature search for scientific articles in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library that reported the incidence of hearing loss in populations over 18 years of age with SCD. We identified 138 studies from the initial search, 12 of which met inclusion criteria and were utilized for data analysis. A total of 636 SCD patients and 360 controls were included in the Cochrane Review Manager 5.3 meta-analysis. There was a statistically significant increase in the prevalence of SNHL in adults with SCD compared with the general population with a cumulative risk ratio (RR) of 6.03. This is the first systematic investigation of the relationship between SCD and SNHL in adult patients across the globe. SNHL is more prevalent in patients with SCD, specifically those of the HbSS genotype, than the general population likely due to the pathophysiology of the disease and its effects on labyrinthine microvasculature. The increased prevalence of SNHL in the adult SCD population warrants future research into the predictors of SNHL severity and merits routine audiometric monitoring of adult SCD patients.

Rare Causes of Unilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Adults: Our Experience.

Bilateral hearing loss is attributed to almost 50% of times with genetic etiology, while most unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (USNHL) are not attributable to it. Limited literature is available on epidemiology of USNHL. Etiology of USNHL is very diverse and vast, it ranges from as common as Meniere's disease to as rare as an electric shock injury. A prospective study was carried out to find rare causes of USNHL in adults. In this manuscript, we present a case series of 7 rare etiologies of USNHL in adults like auditory neuropathy, chemoradiotherapy, dialysis-induced SNHL, common cavity inner ear malformation, multiple sclerosis, acute otitis media-induced SNHL and vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia. This study discusses the rare possible etiologies of USNHL that can be easily missed if these are not ruled out properly. We present these cases to consider these heterogeneous and distinct causes of USNHL because of rarity of these etiologies. If such an etiology is diagnosed in time, they may be managed effectively.

Review of integrated solutions for rehabilitation of sensorineural hearing loss in adults

Objectives - to analyse the complex solutions for rehabilitation of sensorineural hearing loss in adults and elderly people. Material and methods. We reviewed 27 articles on the problem, published in the recent 5 years, presented in the international databases PubMed, Scopus and E-library. Conclusion. The rehabilitation procedure for chronic SNHL is quite clearly regulated and defined at the state level only for the person with hearing disabilities. While determining the needs of the disabled person in rehabilitation, the recommended rehabilitation approaches are described. However, in the normative documents, there is no clearly defined rehabilitation algorithm, taking into account the patient's individual characteristics. A high index of multimorbidity in adults with SNHL, including anxiety-depressive disorders and cognitive deficit, determines the need for inclusion of the auditory training in the rehabilitation process. The use of various options for auditory training along with electro-acoustic correction of hearing or cochlear implantation is an essential component of an individual rehabilitation program.

Virtual reality in rehabilitation of sensorineural hearing loss in adults

Objectives - to study the influence of the individual characteristics of a patient with chronic sensorineural hearing loss on the perception of VR technique. Material and methods. The perception of VR was studied in 77 people in relation to their gender, age, auditory function, psychological and cognitive status. Results. All the patients positively evaluated the use of the virtual reality method. The level of perception of VR in adults is determined by the degree of auditory impairment. A negative correlation was revealed between the indicators of cognitive and psychological status of the examined persons and the level of perception of VR. Conclusion. The VR technique can improve the existing aural rehabilitation methods, especially in the group of people with socially significant hearing impairments.

Azithromycin and Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Adults: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

To examine whether short-term use of azithromycin increases the risk of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in adults with uncomplicated infections. A retrospective cohort study using Medicaid claims data, 1999 to 2010. Adults (18-64 years old) who had continuous enrollment in Medicaid for the 12 months (baseline) before the date of first dispensation (index date) of oral azithromycin or amoxicillin ± clavulanate for uncomplicated infections. We operationalized sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) by a charge for audiometry and followed by a diagnosis of SNHL within 30 days. We adjusted for the baseline covariates through propensity score matching. Adults were followed for up to 120 days after the index date. The hazard of SNHL in azithromycin-exposed adults was compared with those who had amoxicillin ± clavulanate using a Cox proportional hazard model. We performed several sensitivity analyses by varying the follow-up time, SNHL definition, adjusting for cumulative antibiotic use, and switching exposure status during the follow-up period. A total of 493,774 patients entered the study cohort. The unadjusted incidence rates of SNHL were 38 and 41 cases per 10,000 patient-years following exposure to azithromycin and amoxicillin ± clavulanate, respectively. The adjusted (matched) hazard ratio (HR) of SNHL for azithromycin versus amoxicillin ± clavulanate was 0.91 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.77-1.07). The sensitivity analyses findings were consistent with the primary analysis. Azithromycin short-term use was not associated with an increased risk of SNHL in comparison to amoxicillin ± clavulanate.

Association of glutamate metabotropic receptor polymorphisms and sensorineural hearing loss in adults of different age groups

IntroductionSensorineural hearing loss is a common challenge all over the world, including a section of the young population. While there have been many published reports associating glutamate metabotropic receptor 7 with sensorineural hearing loss, there is no report, till date, about the association of glutamate metabotropic receptor 7 polymorphisms with sensorineural hearing loss at different ages. ObjectiveTo test the association between the single nucleotide polymorphisms rs11928865 and rs11920109 of the glutamate metabotropic receptor 7 with sensorineural hearing loss in adults of different age groups. MethodsA total of 1661 subjects were studied. The individuals aged between 30 and 50, and between 51 and 70 years with sensorineural hearing loss comprised group A and group B, respectively. Individuals aged between 30 and 50; and between 51 and 70 years without hearing loss comprised control groups C and D, respectively. The MassARRAY method was used to analyze the genotypes. ResultsThe difference in genotypes for the glutamate metabotropic receptor 7 rs11928865 single nucleotide polymorphism between patients in the groups B and D was statistically significant (p=0.018). The distribution frequencies of genotypes in patients that were aged between 30 and 50 years were not significantly different. The difference in genotypes for the rs11920109 single nucleotide polymorphism between the sensorineural hearing loss groups and control groups showed no statistical significance. ConclusionThe rs11928865 single nucleotide polymorphism was associated with the susceptibility to hearing loss in patients in group B but not with those in group A.

Toward the Future of Early Intervention for Adult Hearing Loss.

This issue of Seminars in Hearing has focused on the early intervention of adult sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Contributions to this monograph have taken a contemporary issues approach to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mild SNHL. This article looks toward the future and discusses clinical and research implications for the early intervention of adult SNHL.

Risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in adults using phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors: Population-based cohort study.

The objective of the study was to determine the risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) associated with use of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. We conducted a retrospective cohort study in the MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Database including adult men who initiated a PDE5 inhibitor (n=377,722) and 1,957,233 nonusers between 1998 and 2007. Periods of drug exposure were assessed on a weekly basis based on pharmacy billing records, assuming use of 1 dose per week (current use). Incident sudden SNHL was defined based on inpatient or outpatient visits with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes 389.1x, 389.2x, or 388.2 plus ≥2 procedure codes for audiometric hearing testing within ±30days of sudden SNHL diagnosis. We used age- and propensity score-adjusted Cox proportional hazards model to evaluate the risk of sudden SNHL during periods of current or recent use compared with that of nonuse. We conducted sensitivity analyses by varying the assumed drug utilization frequency and sudden SNHL case definition. We evaluated 1233 sudden SNHL cases, resulting in an incidence of 4.35, 5.58, and 2.38 per 10,000 person-years for current, recent, and nonuse of PDE5 inhibitors, respectively. Compared with nonuse, the adjusted hazard ratio was 1.25 (1.01-1.55) for current use with a risk difference of 1.97 (1.12-2.82) per 10,000 person-years. For recent use, the adjusted hazard ratio was 1.60 (1.33-1.94) and risk difference was 3.19 (2.24-4.14). Estimates were consistent across the sensitivity analyses. Use of PDE5 inhibitors is associated with a small but significantly increased risk of sudden SNHL.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Adults: Etiological Study

Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Adults: Etiological Study

Hearing Instruments for Unilateral Severe-to-Profound Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objectives:A systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis was conducted to assess the nature and quality of the evidence for the use of hearing instruments in adults with a unilateral severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss.Design:The PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane, CINAHL, and DARE databases were searched with no restrictions on language. The search included articles from the start of each database until February 11, 2015. Studies were included that (a) assessed the impact of any form of hearing instrument, including devices that reroute signals between the ears or restore aspects of hearing to a deaf ear, in adults with a sensorineural severe to profound loss in one ear and normal or near-normal hearing in the other ear; (b) compared different devices or compared a device with placebo or the unaided condition; (c) measured outcomes in terms of speech perception, spatial listening, or quality of life; (d) were prospective controlled or observational studies. Studies that met prospectively defined criteria were subjected to random effects meta-analyses.Results:Twenty-seven studies reported in 30 articles were included. The evidence was graded as low-to-moderate quality having been obtained primarily from observational before-after comparisons. The meta-analysis identified statistically significant benefits to speech perception in noise for devices that rerouted the speech signals of interest from the worse ear to the better ear using either air or bone conduction (mean benefit, 2.5 dB). However, these devices also degraded speech understanding significantly and to a similar extent (mean deficit, 3.1 dB) when noise was rerouted to the better ear. Data on the effects of cochlear implantation on speech perception could not be pooled as the prospectively defined criteria for meta-analysis were not met. Inconsistency in the assessment of outcomes relating to sound localization also precluded the synthesis of evidence across studies. Evidence for the relative efficacy of different devices was sparse but a statistically significant advantage was observed for rerouting speech signals using abutment-mounted bone conduction devices when compared with outcomes after preoperative trials of air conduction devices when speech and noise were colocated (mean benefit, 1.5 dB). Patients reported significant improvements in hearing-related quality of life with both rerouting devices and following cochlear implantation. Only two studies measured health-related quality of life and findings were inconclusive.Conclusions:Devices that reroute sounds from an ear with a severe to profound hearing loss to an ear with minimal hearing loss may improve speech perception in noise when signals of interest are located toward the impaired ear. However, the same device may also degrade speech perception as all signals are rerouted indiscriminately, including noise. Although the restoration of functional hearing in both ears through cochlear implantation could be expected to provide benefits to speech perception, the inability to synthesize evidence across existing studies means that such a conclusion cannot yet be made. For the same reason, it remains unclear whether cochlear implantation can improve the ability to localize sounds despite restoring bilateral input. Prospective controlled studies that measure outcomes consistently and control for selection and observation biases are required to improve the quality of the evidence for the provision of hearing instruments to patients with unilateral deafness and to support any future recommendations for the clinical management of these patients.

Improvement in hearing loss over time in Cornelia de Lange syndrome

ObjectivesPatients with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS) are reported to have conductive (CHL) and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), but there is little information pertaining to the progression of hearing loss over time. The goal of this study was to examine the prevalence of CHL and SNHL in adults and children with CdLS and look for changes in SNHL over time. MethodsRetrospective chart review of patients with CdLS presenting to a CdLS clinic was conducted. Also, a written survey of clinical concerns was collected from additional patients/families seen in the clinic and through the Cornelia de Lange Foundation. ResultsSeventy-eight patients (50% female) were included in the chart review. Mean age was 16.8 ± 11.4 years (range-0.6–50 years) and mean age at diagnosis of hearing loss was 4.6 ± 10.6 years (n = 26). Five patients (6.4%) had severe to profound SNHL that improved with time, including 2 who had complete normalization of audiogram results. Thirty-five families/patients completed the clinical survey, and 45.5% of the families reported a noticeable improvement of hearing over time. ConclusionsConductive hearing loss and SNHL are common in CdLS. More than 50% of the patients seen in an adult CdLS clinic reported improvement in hearing loss over time, and a subset of patients had an improvement in SNHL. In light of these findings, we recommend longitudinal evaluations of hearing loss in these patients with both auditory brainstem response and otoacoustic emissions testing if SNHL is identified.

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss in adults — Our experience with a multidrug high-dose steroid regimen at a tertiary care hospital

Abstract Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is a confusing and controversial issue in our practice since no standard definition, evaluation method and treatment protocol exists. It is more a symptom than a disease entity. It is an otological emergency with narrow golden period of treatment. To establish the early diagnosis, treatment and study the outcome of treatment. It is a prospective study, including patients >18 year age who had presented with sudden sensorineural hearing loss in ENT opd. Patients underwent general systemic and ENT examination, pure tone audiometry, impedance audiometry and necessary imaging. After diagnosis patients were treated with i.v. methylprednisolone 2 gm loading dose on day 1 followed by 1 gm BD for 2 days. and then tab. Prednisolone (1 mg/kg/day) for 5 days, gradually tapered over next 10 days along with tab. pentoxyfylline 400 mg TDS for 14 days with inj. methylcobalamine i.m. OD for 3 days. Pure tone audiogram was repeated on 4th day, 3 week, and 6 weeks after diagnosis. The study group included 37 patients who were diagnosed and treated. 56.76% of patients had sudden SNHL of < 72 hrs. duration, while 43.24% had sudden SNHL of >72 hrs. duration. The majority i.e. 35.14% had severe hearing loss (71-90 db) followed by 29.73% with moderate hearing loss (41-55 db). Tinnitus was noted as commonest associated symptom in 78.38% followed by tinnitus & vertigo in 21.62%. As per etiology, idiopathic cause (64.86%) was followed by acoustic trauma (24.32%) and head trauma (10.81%) in study group. In terms of recovery, 35.14% patients had complete recovery while 40.54% and 24.32% patients had partial and no recovery respectively. The diagnosis of sudden SNHL is easily obtained by audiometry. Exact etiology often remains unknown so early diagnosis by avoiding unnecessary investigations and prompt treatment in <72 hrs. still carry good prognosis.

The Impact of Minimal to Mild Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Adults

The relationship between the pure-tone audiogram and the categorization of normal hearing or a mild hearing loss fails to account for other important non-audiometric factors that impact hearing ability for approximately one-third of adults. In order to obtain a complete hearing profile of our patients who present with normal hearing or a mild hearing loss, it is necessary to consider more than simply the results of the pure-tone audiogram. Both subjective hearing handicap via questionnaire and suprathreshold auditory measures (especially in background noise) have been shown to be sensitive to deficits not captured by the pure-tone audiogram. Viable treatment options with demonstrated benefit, such as mild-gain amplification, should be considered for this population.