Clinical Characteristics of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss with Aggravation During Treatment

Lee, Min Young; Suh, Myung Whan; Rhee, Chung Ku; Jung, Jae Yun

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: From time to time, we encounter patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) whose hearing loss is aggravated during treatment. We analyzed the clinical characteristics and treatment outcome of this particular group of patients.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
Among 194 patients who were diagnosed with sudden sensorineural hearing loss from Jan. 2002 through Jul. 2007, we focused on 17 patients who had an additional 15 dB or more hearing loss within the 7th day of systemic steroid treatment. We enrolled this group of patients in the ADT (aggravation during treatment) group. The remainder of 175 patients served as a control (non-ADT group). We compared the demographic details, type of audiogram, degree of hearing loss, treatment outcome between the ADT group and the non-ADT group.
RESULTS
There was no significant demographic difference between the ADT group and non-ADT group. However, they revealed a difference in the type of audiogram. While the ADT group showed a predominance of ascending type audiogram, the non-ADT group showed a predominance of flat type audiogram. Degree of hearing loss was also significantly different between the two groups: the ADT group revealed relative mild hearing loss while non-ADT group showed relative severe hearing loss. The treatment outcome was significantly better in the non-ADT group compared to the ADT group. In addition, the possibility of later development of Meniere's disease was significantly higher in the ADT group.
CONCLUSION
The clinical characteristics and treatment outcome was quite different in the ADT groups compared to the non-ADT group. This may imply that ADT group is related with a slightly different pathophysiology over against the conventional SSNHL and that SSNHL may not be a single disease entity.