title: Variables with prognostic value in the onset of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The establishment of an individualized prognostic evaluation in patients with a diagnosis of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL) remains a difficult and imprecise task, due mostly to the variety of etiologies. Determining which variables have prognostic value in the initial assessment of the patient would be extremely useful in clinical practice.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To establish which variables identifiable at the onset of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss have prognostic value in the final hearing recovery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, longitudinal cohort study. Patients with ISSHL followed by the Department of Otology-Neurotology of a quaternary hospital were included. The following variables were evaluated and correlated with final hearing recovery: age, gender, vertigo, tinnitus, initial degree of hearing loss, contralateral ear hearing, and elapsed time to treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  127 patients with ISSHL were evaluated. Rates of absolute and relative recovery were 23.6dB and 37.2% respectively. Complete hearing improvement was observed in 15.7% patients; 27.6% demonstrated significant improvement and improvement was noted in 57.5%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During the onset of ISSHL, the following variables were correlated with a worse prognosis: dizziness, profound hearing loss, impaired hearing in the contralateral ear, and delay to start treatment. Tinnitus at the onset of ISSHL correlated with a better prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo Amaro
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Bogaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: andre_maranhao@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: André Souza de Albuquerque
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Maranhão
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniel Paganini
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flavia Alencar de Barros
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Norma de Oliveira
authors.initials: Nde O
authors.lastname: Penido
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Audiometria; Audiometry; Perda auditiva súbita; Prognosis; Prognóstico; Sudden hearing loss