title: Residual tinnitus after the medical treatment of sudden deafness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Some patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) are frustrated by residual tinnitus even after accomplishment of the treatment for SSNHL. In the present prospective study, we examined patients' backgrounds of sex, laterality and age together with changes in hearing level and the tinnitus score after the onset of SSHNL to determine the prognostic factors of residual tinnitus after the final day of medical treatment for SSNHL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four patients with SSNHL were all treated with systemic administration of steroids for 2 weeks and oral intake of vasoactive drugs and vitamin B12 for 6 months before accomplishment of the treatment for SSNHL. The hearing improvement rate (HIR) was determined by comparing the hearing level before and 6 months after the start of treatment. Tinnitus was subjectively evaluated by the tinnitus scoring questionnaire before, 6 and 24 months after the start of treatment. The score of a five-step evaluation of subjective tinnitus feelings, "loudness", "duration" and "annoyance", was recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HIR was significantly correlated with tinnitus score improvement (TSI) in "duration" at 6 months after the start of treatment compared with before treatment. The tinnitus score of all 3 items was significantly improved 6 months after the start of treatment compared with that before treatment but it was not significantly changed between 6 and 24 months after the start of treatment. TSI in "duration" between 6 and 24 months was significantly correlated with the patients' age and HIR using multiple regression analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the tinnitus scoring questionnaire, "duration" is the most reliable item for subjective evaluation of tinnitus accompanied by SSNHL. Generally, subjective feelings for residual tinnitus 6 months after the start of treatment for SSNHL are supposed to be almost the same, even at the 24th post-treatment month. Especially, younger patients with better hearing improvement are predicted to achieve further improvement of tinnitus between 6 and 24 months after the start of treatment.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Osaka Rosai Hospital, Japan.
authors: Takahiro
authors: T
authors: Michiba
authors: Tadashi
authors: T
authors: Kitahara
authors: Noriko
authors: N
authors: Hikita-Watanabe
authors: Munehisa
authors: M
authors: Fukushima
authors: Yoshiyuki
authors: Y
authors: Ozono
authors: Ryusuke
authors: R
authors: Imai
authors: Hidenori
authors: H
authors: Inohara
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; C007133:hydrocortisone hemisuccinate; D014805:Vitamin B 12; D006854:Hydrocortisone