[Analysis of clinical characteristics and curative effects of 169 patients with bilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss].

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics, curative effect related factors and follow-up situation of bilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss (BSSHL). Methods: The clinical data of 169 patients(338 ears) with BSSHL were retrospectively summarized, and the demographic characteristics, predisposing factors, concomitant symptoms and diseases, and audiological characteristics were statistically described. Additionally, influencing factors of curative effect and prognosis were statistically analyzed. Results: Among the 169 patients, 50.9% (86/169) of patients had at least one incentive, with cold and fatigue being the most common incentives(both 23/169). There were high rates of accompanying symptoms including tinnitus (150/169, 88.8%) and dizziness (100/169, 59.2%). Hypertension(49/169, 29.0%)and diabetes(23/169, 13.6%)were the most common concomitant diseases observed. Most cases exhibited all frequencies involvement, with flat type and total deafness type accounting for 83.1%(281/338 ears). The most common degree of hearing loss was total deafness(86/338 ears), with approximately 60.1%(203/338 ears) of the cases being severe or worse. The total effective rate of treatment was only 29.0%, but it increased to 39.5% for patients with course of disease≤14 days, however, when course of disease>30 days, the effective rate decreased sharply to 3.6%, showing a significant difference between these two groups(χ2=13.776,<0.01). Different types of hearing curves showed statistically significant difference in efficiency(χ2=14.782, P<0.01). Comparing the hearing improvements of 28 BSSHL patients from admission to discharge and from discharge to follow-up, it was found that the hearing improvement of the two groups showed statistically significant difference at the frequencies of L-250 Hz, L-500 Hz, R-125 Hz, R-250 Hz and R-500 Hz(Z value was -2.495, -3.083, -3.970, -3.388 and -3.264 respectively, all P<0.05). The proportion of patients with elevated serum IgE was much higher than that of the normal population. Conclusion: BSSHL patients suffer from serious hearing loss, and many also experience tinnitus and vertigo symptoms. Due to the poor efficiency of treatment, it is better for patients to be treated within 30 days of onset. For patients of hearing loss in the low frequency range, hearing improvement is more significant during hospitalization. And the occurrence of BSSHL may involve an immune mechanism.

Prediction of hearing recovery with deep learning algorithm in sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

This study aimed to establish a deep learning-based predictive model for the prognosis of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Data from 1108 patients with SSNHL between January 2015 and May 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients underwent standardized treatment protocols including high-dose steroid therapy and hearing outcomes were assessed after three months using Siegel's criteria and the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) classification. For predicting patient recovery, a two-layered classification process was implemented. Initially, a set of 22 Multilayer Perceptrons (MLP) networks was employed to categorize the patients. The outcomes from this initial categorization were subsequently relayed to a second-layer meta-classifier for final prognosis determination. The validity of this methodology was ascertained through a K-fold cross-validation procedure executed with 10 distinct splits. The prediction model for complete recovery, based on Siegel's criteria, demonstrated an accuracy of 0.892 and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.922. For the class A prediction, according to AAO-HNS classification, the model showed an accuracy of 0.847 and AUC of 0.918. These results suggest that the model may have the potential to contribute to the establishment of tailored patient management strategies by predicting hearing recovery in patients with SSNHL.

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss during the Covid-19 pandemic; experience of a tertiary referral center.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to highlight the differences in the clinical management and treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) due to the impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: This study compared patients diagnosed with SSNHL between March 2020 and March 2022, following the first reported case of COVID-19 in our country, with patients diagnosed between March 2018 and March 2020. The evaluation encompassed demographic characteristics, comorbidities, other ear-related complaints, hearing loss thresholds at each frequency, medical treatment administered, treatment duration, and post-treatment follow-up audiograms. RESULTS: The demographic characteristics and comorbidities of patients before and during the pandemic showed similar distribution. There was no significant difference in the duration from the onset of symptoms to hospital admission during the pandemic compared to the previous period. When evaluating the treatment responses of hospitalized and treated patients according to Siegel's criteria during the pandemic, a similar trend to the pre-pandemic period was observed. It was noted that the use of systemic steroids and hyperbaric oxygen therapy decreased during the pandemic period, while the use of antivirals increased. CONCLUSIONS: In our study conducted as a reference center, we want to emphasize that no clear data indicating a relationship between COVID-19 infection and NHL. Also, we believe that COVID-19 infection does not affect the course and prognosis of SSNHL.

Prognostic Factors in Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: The Experience of Two Audiology Tertiary Referral Centres.

Background and Objectives: Although different hypotheses have been proposed over time, there is a dearth of information on factors able to predict the response to treatment for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) and hearing recovery. The aim of this study was to apply univariate and multivariate statistical models in a retrospective clinical setting of patients given therapy for ISSNHL at our tertiary academic audiological centers to investigate the prognostic value of clinical signs, symptoms, and comorbidities in relation to hearing recovery. Materials and Methods: The inclusion criteria were: history of ISSNHL diagnosed and treated at the Padova or Modena tertiary academic audiological centers; age ≥ 18 years; availability of clinical and audiological outcome data. The exclusion criteria were: hearing loss in acoustic schwannoma, endolymphatic hydrops, meningitis, trauma (head trauma, temporal bone fracture, acoustic trauma), barotrauma, perilymphatic fistula; exposure to noise levels ≥ 80 dB in the work environment; any unilateral or bilateral hearing loss (except for presbycusis) prior to ISSNHL diagnosis; any disorders affecting the external or middle ear; any previous ear surgery; refusal to make medical data available for research purposes. Eighty-six consecutive patients (38 females, 48 males; median age: 58 years; interquartile range: 47.00-69.00 years) were included. A systemic steroid therapy was administered to all patients, either orally with prednisone or intravenously with methylprednisolone. Second-line therapy included intratympanic steroid injections and/or hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Results: A multivariate logistic regression model was used, including the non-multicollinear clinical and audiological variables, which showed a p-value < 0.10 at the univariate analyses (namely age at diagnosis, time to diagnosis, oral steroid dose, and PTA on the affected side). Only PTA on the affected side retained its statistical significance (OR: 1.0615, 95% CI: 1.0185-1.1063, p = 0.005). Conclusions: The analysis of our data showed an association between the hearing threshold before treatment and the recovery from ISSNHL. Further studies on larger cohorts (especially in a prospective setting) are needed to shed more light on the prognostic role of clinical parameters in patients with ISSNHL. In a correct counseling setting, with regard to the patient's concern about not being able to recover hearing, it is important to offer perspectives of appropriate hearing rehabilitation approaches.

The role of hyperbaric oxygen in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss is an unexplained sudden loss of sensorineural hearing, with no specific pathogenesis, and is difficult to treat. The most common therapeutic strategy for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss is the use of steroids combined with neurotrophic drugs, as other treatments have shown limited efficacy. However, in recent years, hyperbaric oxygen therapy has emerged as a promising treatment option. Studies have shown that hyperbaric oxygen therapy, in combination with conventional treatments, can effectively alleviate inner ear edema, improve blood circulation, and suppress inflammation. Therefore, hyperbaric oxygen therapy plays an important role in the treatment of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. In this review, we aim to assess existing studies and summarize the clinical effects and mechanisms of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss, providing a basis for further research on the clinical treatment of this disorder.

Clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of acute sensorineural hearing loss.

OBJECTIVE: Acute sensorineural hearing loss represents a spectrum of conditions characterized by sudden onset hearing loss. The "Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Acute Sensorineural Hearing Loss" were issued as the first clinical practice guidelines in Japan outlining the standard diagnosis and treatment. The purpose of this article is to strengthen the guidelines by adding the scientific evidence including a systematic review of the latest publications, and to widely introduce the current treatment options based on the scientific evidence. METHODS: The clinical practice guidelines were completed by 1) retrospective data analysis (using nationwide survey data), 2) systematic literature review, and 3) selected clinical questions (CQs). Additional systematic review of each disease was performed to strengthen the scientific evidence of the diagnosis and treatment in the guidelines. RESULTS: Based on the nationwide survey results and the systematic literature review summary, the standard diagnosis flowchart and treatment options, including the CQs and recommendations, were determined. CONCLUSION: The guidelines present a summary of the standard approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of acute sensorineural hearing loss. We hope that these guidelines will be used in medical practice and that they will initiate further research.

Effect of combining batroxobin with acupuncture treatment on hearing recovery in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

BACKGROUND: The effect of batroxobin on hearing recovery in patients with Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL) is still controversial, and acupuncture shows auxiliary benefits for SSNHL. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effectiveness of combining acupuncture with batroxobin therapy for patients with SSNHL. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and fifty-six patients with SSNHL were retrospectively enrolled in this study, and categorized into the control group (only batroxobin treatment) and observation group (batroxobin and acupuncture treatment). Pure Tone Audiograms (PTA) threshold and clinical outcomes of hearing recovery were compared. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between hearing recovery and potential risk factors. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the observation group had a higher overall effective rate (p = 0.006) and improvement in PTA threshold (p = 0.007). Among SSNHL patients with high-frequency and flat-type hearing loss, observation group demonstrated superior hearing recovery post-treatment compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Additionally, hearing recovery in patient with SSNHL were associated with SSNHL types, disease duration, neutrophil count and acupuncture (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: Combining batroxobin and acupuncture treatments enhences the improvement of hearing recovery in SSNHL patients compared to only batroxobin treatments, especially high-frequency and flat-type hearing loss.

[Prognosis of 109 cases of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in children].

Objective:To analyze the factors influencing the prognosis of sudden sensorineural deafness in children, and to provide theoretical basis for clinical prevention and treatment. Methods:The clinical data of 109 children with sudden deafness admitted to our hospital from 2016 to 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The children were grouped according to eight related factors, including gender, age, climate, duration of hearing loss, concomitant symptoms, degree of hearing loss, sicken ear, and auditory curve. The chi-square test was used for univariate analysis, and logistic regression was employed to identify factors influencing prognosis. Results:After conventional treatment, 56 cases were ineffective（51.40%）, 30 cases were effective（27.5%）, 13 cases were effective（11.9%）, 10 cases were cured（9.2%）, and the total effective rate was 48.6%. Among concomitant symptoms, children with tinnitus had better treatment results（P<0.05）; In the degree of hearing loss, the effective rate of mild hearing loss was the highest（83.3%）, and the effective rate of very severe hearing loss was the lowest（40.0%）. The prognosis of low frequency decline and high frequency decline were better（P<0.05）; There was no significant correlation between gender, age, climate, duration of hearing loss, sicken ear and prognosis（P>0.05）. Conclusion:The auditory curve and the degree of hearing loss are the factors affecting the prognosis of children with sudden deafness. Additionally, children with tinnitus tend to have a better prognosis.

Otology: Hearing Loss.

Hearing loss is the cause of significant morbidity throughout the United States and the world. Because of numerous factors, such as ongoing noise exposure, poorly controlled chronic disease, and an aging population, the burden of hearing loss is expected to continue to increase. Hearing loss commonly is categorized as conductive, sensorineural, or mixed. The type of hearing loss can be determined through a combination of patient history and physical examination, and then confirmed with audiometry and tympanometry. Advanced imaging is not typically necessary, but it may be helpful in specific instances. The presentation of sudden sensorineural hearing loss should prompt urgent referral to an otolaryngologist and audiologist. Management of this condition is selective but may initially include oral corticosteroids. Management for chronic hearing loss involves the use of hearing aids, which can offer a large benefit to users but historically have been expensive and not covered by many insurance plans. Recent US legislation has made hearing aids more accessible and affordable by allowing direct-to-consumer marketing and offering over-the-counter hearing aids without a clinical evaluation.

Development of clinical predictive nomograms for prognosis of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

BACKGROUND: The outcome of clinical treatment for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is frequently the primary concern. AIM: For the convenient prediction of reference prognosis outcomes in patients with ISSNHL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with ISSNHL who were admitted to the otorhinolaryngology ward of Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2020 to December 2023 were included. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to identify independent prognostic factors for the treatment outcome of ISSNHL, which were subsequently used to develop nomograms. Discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility were assessed to evaluate the performance of the ISSNHL nomograms. RESULTS: 371 ISSNHL patients were enrolled in this study. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that history of deafness, aural fullness, time of onset, and age were independent prognostic factors for ISSNHL patients, with statistically significant regression coefficients. Predictive nomograms were developed with excellent discrimination, calibration, and clinical value. CONCLUSIONS: Leveraging data from ISSNHL patients, we developed a predictive nomogram to assess prognostic factors upon admission. This nomogram facilitates clinicians in approximating the likelihood of favorable prognosis. SIGNIFICANCE: By accumulating clinical data from ISSNHL patients, it's anticipated that the possibility of recovery following treatment can be determined.

Focus on the effect of nursing care combined with cognitive intervention and functional training on negative emotion, compliance and quality of life in elderly patients with sudden deafness: A retrospective study.

To explore the effects of focused solution nursing combined with cognitive intervention combined with functional training on negative emotions, compliance and quality of life in elderly patients with sudden deafness. A total of 160 patients with sudden deafness in the elderly who were treated in our hospital from January 2019 to May 2021 were selected as the objects of this retrospective study. Based on different treatment approaches, subjects were divided into a control group and an observation group. Due to reasons such as the COVID-19 pandemic and transfers, 10 cases were lost to follow-up. In total, 75 cases were ultimately lost from both the control and observation groups. The control group implements cognitive intervention and functional training, and the observation group adopts focused solution nursing care on the basis of the control group. Observe and compare the effects of negative emotions, psychological distress, air conduction threshold level, compliance and quality of life of the 2 groups of patients. The air conduction hearing threshold level of the 2 groups of patients after nursing was lower than that before nursing and the observation group was lower than the control group. The positive coping scores of the 2 groups were significantly increased, and the negative coping scores were both significantly reduced and the observation group was in the 2 indicators. The degree of change was greater than that of the control group (P < .05). After nursing, the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) of the observation group were lower than those of the control group (P < .05). The mental vitality score, social interaction score, emotional restriction score, and mental status of the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group. The observation group's psychological compliance, activity compliance, dietary compliance, and treatment protocol compliance were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < .05). Adopting the focused solution model of nursing care can provide a better nursing recovery for elderly patients with sudden deafness, significantly improve the patient quality of life and anxiety and depression, improve patient compliance with treatment, and provide a certain reference for the nursing of elderly patients with sudden deafness.

Risk Factors, Complications, and Treatment Modalities for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) during pregnancy is a rare condition and has not been much studied. The study aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the risk factors, complications, and treatment modalities for SSNHL in pregnant women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, and Google Scholar were used for the literature search. The Cochrane technique for assessing risk of bias was used for the article quality appraisal, and RevMan 5.4 was used for conducting the meta-analysis. Standard mean difference (SMD) and odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were utilized. Heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed using the I-square (I2) test statistic and the Egger's test, respectively. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The seven primary studies employed prospective and retrospective study designs. The meta-analysis showed that there were fewer risk variables for SSNHL in the experimental group compared with those in the control group (SMD = -0.45 to 3.24, 95% CI = -3.063.63 to 2.16-2.85), indicating that the analysis revealed an insignificant difference. However, the treated patients presented hearing improvement, suggesting a significant analysis (SMD = -0.6710.20, 95% CI = -1.2713.51 to -0.066.88). Furthermore, after therapy, substantial differences were observed in SMD between the two groups (SMD = -0.7415.18, 95% CI = -1.2423.85 to -0.256.40) in favor of the experimental group patients, based on the analysis results of four included studies. However, the I2-value of 0% showed that the heterogeneity was low. CONCLUSION: SSNHL during pregnancy is a notably rare condition with an unknown cause. However, hormonal fluctuations, particularly increased levels of estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy, have been frequently implicated as potential triggers for SSNHL.

Effect of acupuncture intervention time on the therapeutic effect in patients with sudden hearing loss. / é’ˆåˆºä»‹å ¥æ—¶æœºå¯¹çªå‘æ€§è‹æ‚£è€ ç–—æ•ˆçš„å½±å“.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture intervention at different time for patients with sudden hearing loss. METHODS: According to the timing of acupuncture intervention, 86 patients were divided into early exposure group (n=43) and late exposure group (n=43) . The early exposure group was given acupuncture treatment within 14 days of onset, and the late exposure group was given acupuncture treatment after 14 days of onset. After propensity score matching (PSM, a statistical matching technique for observational data) processing by using SPSS26.0 software, outcomes of 30 cases in the early exposure group and 30 cases in the late exposure group were analyzed. In addition to receiving basic treatment with drugs for vascular dilatation, thrombolysis, nourishing nerve, etc., all patients of the two groups were treated with neck acupuncture ("Neck Seven Meridian Lines" acupuncture), once every other day except Sundays, for a total of 12 time. Before, after the treatment and 3 months after the treatment, the total score of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI, 0, 2 and 4 points for each of the 25 items, total scores = 100 points) scale was used to evaluate the improvement of tinnitus symptoms caused by hearing loss. The clinical therapeutic effect was evaluated according to the efficacy grading criteria in the Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Sudden Deafness (2015) and the changes of pure tone audiometry curve. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the effect of factors that might influence efficacy before propensity score matching. RESULTS: The THI scores of patients in both groups decreased strikingly after the treatment and 3 months' follow-up (P<0.05). Compared with the same time-points of the late exposure group, the total THI scores of post-treatment and 3 months' follow-up were evidently lower in the early exposure group (P<0.05). The effective rate of the early exposure group (22/30, 80.00%) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of the late exposure group (16/30, 53.33%). The classification of sudden deafness and the application of traditional Chinese medicine in this study were not independent factors affecting the total effective rate. CONCLUSIONS: The time point of acupuncture intervention is an important factor affecting the effect on hearing and tinnitus disability of patients with sudden deafness. The earlier acupuncture treatment is accepted, the better the therapeutic effect is.

Management of Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (ISSNHL) Intratympanic Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Versus Intratympanic Steroid Injections: A Cross-Sectional Study.

<b><br>Introduction:</b> Idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss of 30 decibels (dB) or more over at least three contiguous audiometric frequencies with an onset of less than 3 days is referred to as sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) and is known as an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) emergency. When a patient's hearing suddenly deteriorates, they become confused, anxious, and worried. One of the primary therapies for sudden sensorineural hearing loss is intratympanic steroids. Intratympanic injections of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) improve inner ear hair cells, which enhances hearing.</br> <b><br>Aim:</b> To show the safety and efficacy of intratympanic PRP injection in the management of ISSNHL in comparison with intratympanic steroid injection.</br> <b><br>Methods:</b> The study group was comprised of 100 patients who had experienced ISSNHL within 30 days with no retrocochlear pathology, as demonstrated by a negative MRI scan. 50 patients received 6 intratympanic steroid injections, while the remaining 50 patients received 2 intratympanic injections of PRP at a 1-week interval.</br> <b><br>Results:</b> A total of 39 patients with PRP injection noted an improvement in their hearing of 25 db after 2 weeks and of 30 db after 2 months, with improved speech discrimination of 26% after 2 weeks and of 28% after 2 months. 31 patients with intratympanic steroid injection noted an improvement in their hearing of 18 db after 2 weeks and of 22 db after 2 months, with improved speech discrimination of 21% after 2 weeks and of 24% after 2 months.</br> <b><br>Conclusions:</b> PRP appears safe and efficient for the treatment of ISSNHL, with a low cost and no systemic side effects, as with oral steroids. Therefore, such research should be continued.</br>.

Pneumo-Membranous Labyrinth After Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

Pneumo-membranous labyrinth is an almost unique condition, in which air extends into the membranous labyrinth, filling the endolymphatic sac through the vestibular aqueduct. In this manuscript, we describe and discuss a case of pneumo-membranous labyrinth, with air bubbles extending also to the endolymphatic sac, resulting in anacusis, following hyperbaric oxygen therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss. The patient was successfully rehabilitated with a cochlear implant, obtaining a pure-tone average of 30 dB, with a speech discrimination score of 100% at 70 dB. Laryngoscope, 134:3773-3777, 2024.

Access to Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss Care at Private Equity-Owned Otolaryngology Clinics.

OBJECTIVE: Characterizing access to sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) care at private practice otolaryngology clinics of varying ownership models. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional prospective review. SETTING: Private practice otolaryngology clinics. METHODS: We employed a Secret Shopper study design with private equity (PE) owned and non-PE-owned clinics within 15 miles of one another. Using a standardized script, researchers randomly called 50% of each clinic type between October 2021 and January 2022 requesting an appointment on behalf of a family member enrolled in either Medicaid or private insurance (PI) experiencing SSNHL. Access to timely care was assessed between clinic ownership and insurance type. RESULTS: Seventy-eight total PE-owned otolaryngology clinics were identified across the United States. Only 40 non-PE clinics could be matched to the PE clinics; 39 PE and 28 non-PE clinics were called as Medicaid patients; 39 PE and 25 non-PE clinics were called as PI patients; 48.7% of PE and 28.6% of non-PE clinics accepted Medicaid. The mean wait time to new appointment ranged between 9.55 and 13.21 days for all insurance and ownership types but did not vary significantly (P > .480). Telehealth was significantly more likely to be offered for new Medicaid patients at non-PE clinics compared to PE clinics (31.8% vs 0.0%, P = .001). The mean cost for an appointment was significantly greater at PE clinics than at non-PE clinics ($291.18 vs $203.75, P = .004). CONCLUSIONS: Patients seeking SSNHL care at PE-owned otolaryngology clinics are likely to face long wait times prior to obtaining an initial appointment and reduced telehealth options.

The therapeutic effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in patients with severe to profound idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

The optimal treatment for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is unclear. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been suggested as a viable option for treatment of SSNHL as it improves vascular dysfunction. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of HBOT by retrospectively reviewing the records of 2206 patients with SSNHL. 54 who had received HBOT were selected for the HBOT groups, while 59 age-matched controls who had not were selected for the control groups. The HBOT and control groups were divided into subgroups according to intratympanic steroid (ITS) use. Groups A-D had received oral steroids + HBOT, oral steroids only, oral steroids + ITS + HBOT, and oral steroids + ITS, respectively. Of the 113 SSNHL patients, 21 had diabetes mellitus (DM) (2, 0, 9, and 10 patients in Groups A-D, respectively). There was no notable difference in hearing improvement between patients receiving HBOT and those in the control group. However, among diabetic patients, those who underwent HBOT demonstrated a significant improvement in hearing when compared to the control group. The combination of HBOT and steroids could potentially be beneficial for treating severe to profound SSNHL patients with DM.

[Increase in the natural hearing threshold after treatment with cochlear implants]. / Anstieg der natürlichen Hörschwelle nach Cochleaimplantatversorgung.

More than 5% of the world's population suffers from disabling hearing loss. If the cause of hearing loss is unclear, it is referred to as idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL). After failure of standard treatment, the use of hearing aids or a cochlear implant is generally recommended. In this case, a 55-year-old patient was treated with cochlear implantation (CI) after ISSNHL and unsuccessful conservative therapy. Approximately 1 year after implantation and 7 years after the sudden hearing loss, subjective measurements revealed restoration of the hearing threshold.