title: Prognostic factors in sudden hearing loss.
abstract: Sudden hearing loss is a sensorineural hypoacusis, unilateral in most of the cases, with an incidence peak in young adult. This article is the result of a four years retrospective study, in which we have tried to see how age, severity of hearing loss, presence or absence of vertigo, the timing of treatment initiation can influence the hearing recovery. 47 patients were included in this inpatient study. They were investigated (clinical, lab and imaging studies) and the treatment protocol included vasodilators, anti-inflammatory agents, vitamins, plasma expander. In conclusion, a good prognosis in the hearing recovery was associated with absence of vertigo, early treatment (the first 7 days), and hearing loss less than 50dB. Age had no influence on the recovery process.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department "Sfanta Maria" Hospital, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Raluca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Enache
authors.forename: Codrut
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sarafoleanu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010952:Plasma Substitutes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014717:Vertigo / Q000209:etiology; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010952:Plasma Substitutes; D012709:Serum Albumin; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D014815:Vitamins