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. 2014 Nov;134(11):1158-63.
doi: 10.3109/00016489.2014.919406.

Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss in Japan

Tsutomu Nakashima  1 , Hiroaki Sato, Kiyofumi Gyo, Naohito Hato, Tadao Yoshida, Mariko Shimono, Masaaki Teranishi, Michihiko Sone, Yukari Fukunaga, Gen Kobashi, Kunihiko Takahashi, Shigeyuki Matsui, Kaoru Ogawa
Affiliations
Free PMC article

Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss in Japan

Tsutomu Nakashima et al. Acta Otolaryngol. 2014 Nov.
Free PMC article

Abstract

Conclusion: An epidemiological survey of hospitals and private clinics in Japan regarding idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) revealed that the incidence of SSNHL was 60.9 per 100 000 population. There were more females than males in the younger generation.

Objective: The incidence of SSNHL varies largely by country. Because the Japanese criteria for diagnosing SSNHL have changed in accordance with those widely used in other parts of the world, a clinicoepidemiological study was undertaken using the new criteria.

Methods: Ehime, Aichi, and Iwate Prefectures were selected from the western, central, and northeastern regions of Japan, respectively. The subjects for this study were patients who suffered SSNHL between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013. Questionnaires were mailed to all hospitals and private clinics in which ENT doctors were working. Initial and final audiograms were requested for 10% of the patients.

Results: In all, 78 of 90 hospitals (87%) and 303 of 407 private clinics (74%) responded. It was reported that 1663 patients visited hospitals and 3090 patients visited only private clinics. It was estimated that 6205 SSNHL patients visited hospitals or private clinics in 1 year from a population of 10 145 000. Also, 23% of patients suffered acute low-tone SNHL (female to male ratio; 3:1 in definite cases).

Keywords: ENT doctors; Sudden deafness; acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss; earthquake; epidemiology; hospitals; incidence; population; private clinics; season.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The three prefectures selected for the epidemiological study of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in Japan.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Distribution of annual incidence of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) for men and women, in each age group.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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