Treatment effectiveness according to frequencies in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study is to evaluate combined hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and steroids on hearing in sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) patients.

Method: A total of 50 patients with sudden hearing loss that started within 1 week and who received a combination of intravenous steroid therapy and HBOT in their medical treatment were assigned to the otolaryngology department for 1 week, followed by intravenous steroid therapy at 1 mg/kg/day and then reduced doses for 1 week. They were treated once in a hyperbaric chamber where they breathed 100% oxygen at 2.5 atm pressure for 60 min, for a total of 20 sessions.

Results: Hearing loss was observed in 54% of participants in the right ear. Significant improvements were observed in hearing thresholds across all tested frequencies after treatment with a specific intervention (p < 0.001 for each comparison). Combined steroid and HBOT significantly improved hearing across low and high frequencies (p < 0.001). Improvement in hearing at low frequencies was significantly greater than at high frequencies (p < 0.01). Post hoc analysis showed greater hearing improvement at lower frequencies compared to higher ones.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that combined steroid and HBOT significantly improves hearing thresholds in patients with idiopathic SSNHL, especially at lower frequencies.