[Effect of weather on the incidence of sudden deafness]. / Der Einfluss des Wetters auf die Hörsturzinzidenz.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The etiology of sudden idiopathic hearing loss is not known. Among other causes, vascular disease is discussed as a possible pathomechanism in sudden hearing loss. Since other vascular diseases such as myocardial infarction, migraine, and open-angle glaucoma show a clear meteorotropy, it was the aim of the present prospective study to investigate the dependence of sudden hearing loss on weather parameters. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The incidence, the extent, and the remission of sudden idiopathic hearing loss in 128 patients were correlated with atmospheric pressure and temperature during a period of 12 months. RESULTS: The group of patients with a complete recovery of hearing thresholds was characterized by the smallest changes of atmospheric pressure and temperature, whereas patients with no recovery of hearing had the highest values for atmospheric pressure and temperature changes. However, a statistically significant correlation of sudden hearing loss with absolute values or relative changes of atmospheric air pressure or temperature was not found. Likewise, there was no seasonal dependence. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that sudden idiopathic hearing loss occurs independently of weather parameters.