Constraint-induced sound therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss--behavioral and neurophysiological outcomes.
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is characterized by acute, idiopathic hearing deterioration. We report here the development and evaluation of "constraint-induced sound therapy", which is based on a well-established neuro-rehabilitation approach, and which is characterized by the plugging of the intact ear ("constraint") and the simultaneous, extensive stimulation of the affected ear with music. The sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients who received the constraint-induced sound therapy in addition to the standard corticosteroid therapy showed significantly better recovery of hearing function compared to those who had only received corticosteroid treatments. Additionally, the brain activity obtained in a subgroup of patients suggested that the constraint-induced sound therapy could have prevented maladaptive auditory cortex reorganization. Constraint-induced sound therapy thus appears to be an effective, practical, and safe treatment option for sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
1] Department of Integrative Physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan [2] Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany.
Hidehiko
H
Okamoto
Department of Otolaryngology, Osaka Rosai Hospital, Sakai, Osaka 591-8025, Japan.
Munehisa
M
Fukushima
1] Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany [2] Institute for Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany.
Henning
H
Teismann
Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany.
Lothar
L
Lagemann
1] Department of Otolaryngology, Osaka Rosai Hospital, Sakai, Osaka 591-8025, Japan [2] Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Tadashi
T
Kitahara
Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Hidenori
H
Inohara
Department of Integrative Physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8585, Japan.
Ryusuke
R
Kakigi
Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany.
Christo
C
Pantev
D000328:Adult; D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009482:Neurophysiology / Q000379:methods; D013016:Sound