Newswise — 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."
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