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. 2011:2011:465831.
doi: 10.1155/2011/465831. Epub 2011 Nov 28.

Early posttreatment audiometry underestimates hearing recovery after intratympanic steroid treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Benjamin J Wycherly  1 , Jared J Thompkins, H Jeffrey Kim
Affiliations

Early posttreatment audiometry underestimates hearing recovery after intratympanic steroid treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Benjamin J Wycherly et al. Int J Otolaryngol. 2011.

Abstract

Objective. To review our experience with intratympanic steroids (ITSs) for the treatment of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL), emphasizing the ideal time to perform follow-up audiograms. Methods. Retrospective case review of patients diagnosed with ISSNHL treated with intratympanic methylprednisolone. Injections were repeated weekly with a total of 3 injections. Improvement was defined as an improved pure-tone average ≥20 dB or speech-discrimination score ≥20%. Results. Forty patients met the inclusion criteria with a recovery rate of 45% (18/40). A significantly increased response rate was found in patients having an audiogram >5 weeks after the first dose of ITS (9/13) over those tested ≤5 weeks after the first dose of ITS (9/27) (P = 0.03). Conclusions. Recovery from ISSNHL after ITS injections occurs more frequently >5 weeks after initiating ITS. This may be due to the natural history of sudden hearing loss or the prolonged effect of steroid in the inner ear.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Scatterplot: time from deafness and time from intratympanic steroids (ITSs) to audiogram; hearing recovery in decibels (dBs).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Scatterplot: duration of deafness prior to first dose of intratympanic steroids (ITSs) and degree of hearing recovery in decibels (dBs).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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