Efficacy of Oral and Intratympanic Steroids on Recovery of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Bisha City: A Follow-up Study
Ashwaq M. Al-Absi, Hany Ibrahim Khirallah, Naif Abdulaziz M. Alqarni, Hani Ali Mehanni, Sultan Saleh Khabti, Saleh A. Mehdar, Nawaf Amer H. Alsoiry, Atiya Abdullah S. Alghamdi, Partha Amal Nandi, Abdullah Hassan AlhalafiAbstract
Background:
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is characterized by a rapid loss of hearing, typically defined as a decrease of ≥30 dB over at least three consecutive frequencies within ≤72 h. Steroid therapy is the most used treatment modality for SSNHL.
Aims:
The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of oral steroid therapy for mild-to-moderate SSNHL and combined oral and intratympanic steroid therapy for severe to profound SSNHL.
Settings and Design:
The study design was an experimental follow-up study.
Methodology:
Patients were allocated to the two groups according to disease severity, which received different treatment modalities, and followed for 6 months using a pure-tone audiometer.
Statistical Analysis:
Associations between categorical variables were assessed using Chi-square, Mann–Whitney
Results:
This study involved 18 patients with SSNHL, of which 11 (61%) had mild-to-moderate SSNHL and 7 (38%) had severe-to-profound SSNHL. Those with severe-to-profound SSNHL who received combined systemic and intratympanic steroid therapy had notably higher rates of no or slight improvement than those with mild-to-moderate hearing loss who received systemic steroid therapy only.
Conclusions:
This study found that patients with severe-to-profound hearing loss did not recover better with combined systemic and intratympanic steroid therapy. However, patients with mild-to-moderate hearing loss exhibited better hearing improvement with systematic steroid therapy alone.