Time, Therapy Spur Recovery from Sudden Sensorineural
Hearing Loss
Editor: A surprisingly large number of people suffer from sudden
sensorineural hearing loss every year, and a surprisingly large number
recover, either spontaneously or with treatment. Here's more information
from the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
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A first-of-its-kind study into time-dependent treatments of sudden
sensorineural hearing loss published in the February 2007 issue of
Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery has determined that a combination
of time and oral corticosteroid therapy can play a key role in helping
patients regain full hearing, often within a month of the initial loss
of hearing.
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss, which affects approximately 4,000
Americans each year, is hearing loss of 30 dB or more that develops over
a span of several hours to three days. While the spontaneous recovery
rate is high (30 to 60 % of patients may experience recovery within two
weeks), little is known about the exact cause.
The study's authors found that of 121 patients who recovered within
three months, nearly half (45.5%) showed delayed recovery after ten days
of oral corticosteroid therapy, and of that group, over 78 percent fully
recovered within one month.
The study also showed that when there was a lesser degree of hearing
loss, the chance of a delayed recovery increased. According the study's
authors, this suggests that even if a 10-day course of treatment fails
to spur recovery in a patient, there is enough time to pursue
alternative treatment (such as intratympanic steroid administration).
Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery is the official scientific
journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Foundation (AAO-HNSF). The authors of the study are Sang-Won Yeo, MD;
Dong-Hee Lee, MD; Beom-Cho Jun, MD; and Yong-Soo Park, MD. They are
associated with the Department of Otolaryngology at the Catholic
University of Korea's College of Medicine in Seoul, Korea.
About the AAO-HNSF: The American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and
Neck Surgery Foundation (http://www.entnet.org), one of the oldest
medical associations in the nation, represents more than 12,000
physicians and allied health professionals who specialize in the
diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the ears, nose, throat, and
related structures of the head and neck. The Academy serves its members
by facilitating the advancement of the science and art of medicine
related to otolaryngology and by representing the specialty in
governmental and socioeconomic issues. The organization's mission is:
"Working for the Best Ear, Nose, and Throat Care."
