title: Prognostic factors for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy and intravenous steroids.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the prognosis of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss when treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy and intravenous steroids.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical data for 334 patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss treated by hyperbaric oxygen therapy and intravenous steroids at our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. These data included the initial averaged five-frequency hearing level, patient age, interval between onset of symptoms and treatment, vertigo as a complication, and co-existence of diabetes mellitus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall improvement rate was 69.2 per cent, including better improvement (25.5 per cent), good improvement (21.0 per cent) and fair improvement (22.7 per cent).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hyperbaric oxygen therapy appears to confer a significant additional therapeutic benefit when used in combination with steroid therapy for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. If performed early, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may bring about hearing improvement in many patients who are unresponsive to initial therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery,Hamamatsu University School of Medicine,Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hosokawa
authors.affiliation: Irie ENT Clinic,Shizuoka,Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.affiliation: Yamahoshi ENT Clinic,Hamamatsu,Japan.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology,Shizuoka Saiseikai General Hospital,Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takebayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery,Hamamatsu University School of Medicine,Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mineta
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001299:Audiometry; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy; Prognosis; Sensorineural Hearing Loss; Treatment Outcome