Work

Prognostic Significance of Early Posttreatment Audiometry in Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the prognostic value of early posttreatment initiation audiometry findings in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL). STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING: The study was conducted at a single tertiary medical center. METHODS: A review was conducted on 299 ISSHL patients treated between 2007 and 2023. Patients underwent audiometry on Days 2 to 3 and 5 to 7 posttreatment initiation. Data on demographics, medical history, audiometry results, and prognosis were collected. Prognosis was categorized based on hearing recovery at 1 year postdiagnosis. RESULTS: Older age, worse initial speech reception threshold (SRT), ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular accidents/transient ischemic attacks, hypertension, and diabetes were associated with a poorer prognosis. Posttreatment initiation audiometry findings on Days 2 to 3 and 5 to 7 significantly correlated with prognosis. Patients with a ≥30% improvement had substantial or complete recovery in over 80% of cases, while those with <10% had <30% recovery. Multivariate analysis identified a significant improvement on days 5 to 7 as an independent predictor of complete recovery (odds ratio = 4.25 [95% confidence interval 1.96-9.23], P = .0002). CONCLUSION: Posttreatment initiation audiometry findings, particularly on Days 5 to 7, hold significant prognostic value in ISSHL patients. A substantial improvement during this timeframe is strongly associated with favorable outcomes. These findings emphasize the potential of posttreatment initiation audiometry as a valuable tool for clinicians in counseling patients with ISSHL.

Source: Otolaryngology

DOI: 10.1002/ohn.1009

Authors: Harel Sofer, Ran Fisher, Yehuda Tarnovsky, Gaelle Vofo, Michal Kaufmann, Sagit Stern Shavit

Institutions: Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Hadassah Medical Center, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Bikur Cholim Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Vestibular and auditory disorders

Subfield: Neurology

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,600