title: Importance of early referral in sudden loss of hearing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the personal and clinical characteristics of patients suffering from sudden hearing loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants were 45 Israeli patients, and the data was collected retrospectively from their medical files.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In most cases the injury was sensory, and in one ear. The common symptom was tinnitus, followed by vertigo. In 20 per cent of the cases no preliminary signs were documented. As many as 60 per cent of the participants suffered from high levels of cholesterol. This finding might indicate a link between the events of hearing loss and patients' vascular background. A total of 42 per cent of the participants delayed their appeal to treatment, despite the appearance of symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant link was found between quick referral to treatment and recovery. The nurse holds a central role in identifying this group of patients and ensuring their referral to further treatment.
authors.affiliation: Asaf Harofe Medical Center, Israel.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rassin
authors.forename: Nicka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gorlansky
authors.forename: Eddie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shahin
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hacham
authors.forename: Pnina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: Miri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Dina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Silner
mesh_terms: D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies