title: Recurrent sudden sensorineural hearing loss sensitive to transtympanic and systemic steroid treatment: case report.
abstract: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a rare otologic emergency. Recurrence of this pathology is extremely rare, and its incidence remains unknown. We report the case of a previously healthy 28-year-old man with normal findings on bilateral ear examination who presented with severe unilateral SSNHL. Audiometry demonstrated a pure-tone average of 70 dB and a speech discrimination score of 0% in the affected ear. The patient was treated within hours of the onset of symptoms with an intratympanic injection of dexamethasone and then started on a tapered course of oral prednisone. He experienced a full recovery based on repeat audiometric testing 7 days later. However, 1 year later, the patient experienced a repeat episode of SSNHL in the same ear. Management again included an intratympanic injection and an oral steroid course with good results. A complete metabolic and radiographic evaluation failed to identify a cause of the hearing loss. This case represents a highly unusual instance of recurrent SSNHL of unknown etiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
authors.forename: Victor I
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Scapa
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Friedland
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013067:Speech Perception; D014432:Tympanic Membrane
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone; D011241:Prednisone