Management of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if any consensus exists regarding the efficacy of treatment in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss syndrome (ISSNHL).


METHODS
A review of the literature from 1966 to the present on Medline database was performed with the following search criteria: Hearing loss, sensorineural (MeSH terms), sensorineural hearing loss (text word), deafness (MeSH), and idiopathic or sudden (all fields). Further limiting search terms were treatment outcomes or controlled studies.


METHODS
The articles were then analyzed searching for randomized, prospective, controlled studies of single treatment modalities. Both human and animal studies were included for discussion because of the paucity of human studies.


CONCLUSIONS
No consensus exists on the effective treatment of ISSNHL. Randomized, controlled studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of systemic steroids, however, follow up studies have questioned the benefit of steroid therapy.
Haberkamp
T J
TJ
Department of Otolaryngology, Rush Medical College, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA.
Tanyeri
H M
HM
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000187:drug effects; D003051:Cochlea / Q000098:blood supply; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D012107:Research Design; D013256:Steroids; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D013256:Steroids; D014665:Vasodilator Agents