title: Audiometric patterns and prognosis in sudden sensorineural hearing loss in southern Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate factors affecting the prognosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL).
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study of patients with SSNHL hospitalized at an academic medical center. All patients in this study were treated with prednisolone and dextran. We compared a new 7-pattern classification for audiometric pattern and prognosis analysis with Sheehy classification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analyzed 148 affected ears in 146 patients. Occurrence of SSNHL was associated with changes in season. The best prognosis was with the midtone pattern of the 7-pattern classification and with the low-tone pattern of Sheehy classification. The older patients, those with vertigo, or those treated after 6 days had a poor prognosis. There was no significant association between ESR level and prognosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SSNHL patients with midtone loss have the best prognosis. This study of the audiometric patterns and prognostic factors of SSNHL allow us to better predict its outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ning-Chia
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Kuen-Yao
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Wen-Rei
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Kuo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001299:Audiometry / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors