title: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss in divers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sudden sensorineural hearing loss in divers may be caused by either inner-ear barotrauma or inner-ear decompression sickness. There is no consensus on the best treatment option. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic value of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss in divers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature review and three cases of divers with sudden sensorineural hearing loss treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy are presented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hyperbaric oxygen therapy resulted in hearing improvement in 80 per cent of patients: 39 per cent had hearing improvement and 41 per cent had full recovery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improved hearing in divers with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
authors.affiliation: Diving Medical Center,Royal Netherlands Navy,Den Helder,The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Van Der Wal
authors.affiliation: Diving Medical Center,Royal Netherlands Navy,Den Helder,The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P J A M
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Van Ooij
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology,Central Military Hospital,Utrecht,The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: De Ru
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001469:Barotrauma / Q000150:complications; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000150:complications; D004242:Diving / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007758:Ear, Inner; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords:  Sensorineural;  Sudden; Hearing Loss; Hyperbaric Oxygenation