Quality of life, psychosocial consequences, and audiological rehabilitation after sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Abstract

Objective: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) is characterized by a rapid loss of hearing, most often of cochlear origin. Very little attention has been paid in the literature to quality of life (QoL), psychosocial consequences and audiological rehabilitation after SSHL.

Design: We studied how level of hearing loss, hearing recovery, tinnitus and vertigo affect QoL after SSHL and the psychosocial consequences of SSHL in terms of sick leave. Furthermore, the audiological rehabilitation given to patients in connection with SSHL and the benefit of the rehabilitation were studied.

Study sample: Three hundred and sixty-nine (369) patients with SSHL were analysed in the present study.

Results: Annoying tinnitus and remaining vertigo after SSHL were the strongest predictors of negative effects on QoL.

Conclusions: The study indicates that patients with SSHL require extended audiological rehabilitation including a multi-disciplinary rehabilitation approach (medical, social and psychological) to cope with the complex issues that can arise after SSHL.