title: Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss in Japan.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  An epidemiological survey of hospitals and private clinics in Japan regarding idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) revealed that the incidence of SSNHL was 60.9 per 100 000 population. There were more females than males in the younger generation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The incidence of SSNHL varies largely by country. Because the Japanese criteria for diagnosing SSNHL have changed in accordance with those widely used in other parts of the world, a clinicoepidemiological study was undertaken using the new criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ehime, Aichi, and Iwate Prefectures were selected from the western, central, and northeastern regions of Japan, respectively. The subjects for this study were patients who suffered SSNHL between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013. Questionnaires were mailed to all hospitals and private clinics in which ENT doctors were working. Initial and final audiograms were requested for 10% of the patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 78 of 90 hospitals (87%) and 303 of 407 private clinics (74%) responded. It was reported that 1663 patients visited hospitals and 3090 patients visited only private clinics. It was estimated that 6205 SSNHL patients visited hospitals or private clinics in 1 year from a population of 10 145 000. Also, 23% of patients suffered acute low-tone SNHL (female to male ratio; 3:1 in definite cases).
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya.
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Kiyofumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gyo
authors.forename: Naohito
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hato
authors.forename: Tadao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimono
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Teranishi
authors.forename: Michihiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sone
authors.forename: Yukari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukunaga
authors.forename: Gen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kobashi
authors.forename: Kunihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Shigeyuki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogawa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ENT doctors; Sudden deafness; acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss; earthquake; epidemiology; hospitals; incidence; population; private clinics; season