title: Analysis of frequency loss as a prognostic factor in idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of systemic steroids with intratympanic dexamethasone injection (ITDI) did not result in significantly different outcomes from steroid treatment only and did not have any additional beneficial effects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate hearing recovery in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) according to frequency and to compare treatment responses between patients treated with systemic steroids and systemic steroids with ITDI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-nine patients with ISSNHL were selected to participate in the study by a retrospective medical chart review. Patients were divided into two groups, systemic steroid treatment only and systemic steroid with adjunctive ITDI. Hearing recovery was evaluated by pure tone audiometry (PTA). All patients underwent PTA examination before treatment and after 3 months. Thresholds were analyzed by frequency along with other factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Low frequency hearing loss responded better than high frequency loss to PTA. When we analyzed pure tone audiogram patterns, all patterns except for the descending type showed better improvement in patients with lower frequency hearing loss than in patients with higher frequency hearing loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.forename: Jiwon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Gi Jung
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Soon-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Hakhyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: June
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D006316:Hearing Loss, High-Frequency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D020127:Recovery of Function; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids