title: Differences between acoustic trauma and other types of acute noise-induced hearing loss in terms of treatment and hearing prognosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the differences between acoustic trauma (AT) and other types of acute noise-induced hearing loss (ANIHL), we performed a literature search and case reviews.
  
  
  METHODS
  The literature search based on online databases was completed in September 2016. Articles on ANIHL and steroid treatment for human subjects were reviewed. The source sounds and treatment sequelae of our accumulated cases were also reviewed. Hearing loss caused by gun-shots and explosions was categorized into the AT group, while hearing loss caused by concerts and other noises was categorized into the ANIHL group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Systemic steroid treatment did not appear to be effective, at least in the AT group, based on both the literature and our case reviews. However, effective recovery after treatment including steroids was observed in the ANIHL group. The difference in hearing recovery between the AT and ANIHL groups was statistically significant (p = .030), although differences in age, days from the onset to treatment and pretreatment hearing levels were not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hearing recovery from AT is very poor, whereas, ANIHL is recoverable to some extent. Therefore, it is essential to differentiate between these two groups for accurate prediction of the hearing prognosis and evaluation of treatment effects.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine , University of Tsukuba , Tsukuba , Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.affiliation: b Department of Otolaryngology , Kitasato University School of Medicine , Sagamihara , Japan.
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.affiliation: c Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Shinshu University School of Medicine , Matsumoto , Japan.
authors.forename: Shin-Ya
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Nishio
authors.affiliation: c Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Shinshu University School of Medicine , Matsumoto , Japan.
authors.forename: Ryosuke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kitoh
authors.affiliation: d Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Saitama School of Medicine , Moroyama , Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikezono
authors.affiliation: e Department of Otolaryngology , International University of Health and Welfare, Mita Hospital , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.affiliation: f Division of Hearing and Balance Research , National Institute of Sensory Organs, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Kimitaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaga
authors.affiliation: g Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine , Hirosaki , Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsubara
authors.affiliation: f Division of Hearing and Balance Research , National Institute of Sensory Organs, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
authors.affiliation: h Department of Otolaryngology , Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine , Maebashi , Japan.
authors.forename: Takaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.affiliation: i Department of Otolaryngology , Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital , Kobe , Japan.
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Naito
authors.affiliation: j Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery , Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus , Nishihara , Japan.
authors.forename: Mikio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: k Department of Otolaryngology , Nagasaki University Faculty of Medicine , Nagasaki , Japan.
authors.forename: Haruo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: l Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine , University of Miyazaki , Miyazaki , Japan.
authors.forename: Testuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tono
authors.affiliation: m Department of Otolaryngology , Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine , Ube , Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine , University of Tsukuba , Tsukuba , Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.affiliation: c Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Shinshu University School of Medicine , Matsumoto , Japan.
authors.forename: Shin-Ichi
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Usami
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D020127:Recovery of Function
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones
keywords: Noise-induced hearing loss; acoustic ear injury; acoustic trauma; hearing recovery; noise exposure; steroids; threshold shift; treatment