Intratympanic corticosteroids for sudden idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether instillation of intratympanic steroids is effective in the treatment of sudden idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent intratympanic steroid treatment (methylprednisolone and/or dexamethasone) between 1996 and 2002 at a tertiary care university otology clinic. Thirty-three patients were identified, of which 26 met inclusion criteria for having an idiopathic hearing loss. Pretreatment and posttreatment pure-tone audiograms and speech discrimination scores were compared.


RESULTS
Overall, there was a 27.2 +/- 5.7 dB improvement in the pure-tone thresholds and a 25.4 +/- 6.2% improvement in speech discrimination scores. Those treated within 10 days of onset had a statistically significant better outcome than those treated after 10 days. No adverse reactions or complications were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Instillation of intratympanic steroids represents a safe and potentially effective treatment of sudden idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss.
Banerjee
Avik
A
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Parnes
Lorne S
LS
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013069:Speech Reception Threshold Test; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014432:Tympanic Membrane
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D008775:Methylprednisolone