SUDDEN SENSORINEURAL HEARING LOSS: CLINICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF PATIENTS

Abstract

Objective:

To study the clinical profile & prognostic factors in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Material and Methods:

A retrospective study was carried out from patients of sudden sensineural hearing loss (SSNHL) presenting to ENT department of T.U.Teaching hospital, a tertiary referral center of Nepal from April 2006 to June 2012. All patients were given intravenous steroids as treatment modality for 14 days and pure tone audiogram was done every 3 days during hospital admission. It was followed by oral steroids in tapering dose for further 14 days. After 1 month, audiogram was done again. After 1 month if hearing threshold was decreased by more than 50% of presenting one, then it was labeled as improved.

Results:

Total 85 patients (87 ears) with age ranging from 6-77 years (average- 41.3 years) were included. Three fourth were male. Presentation was 1-14days after onset of hearing loss (average- 3.7days) with pure tone audiogram (PTA) of 38-117dB (average 83.1dB). The flat audiogram (62.3%) was most common type. Smoking was present in 32 patients and tinnitus in 58 ears. Haemoglobin ranged from 7.3-18.7gm %(average- 15.3gm/dl). PTA post treatment was 8-73dB (average- 56dB). Average age of improved patient was 39.8years which was lower than non-improved patients (42.3years). In improved patients, average PTA at presentation was 77.9dB while it was 86.6dB in non improved patients.

Conclusion:

SSNHL is more commonly seen in male patients with polycythaemia and is commonly presented in winter season and is frequently associated with tinnitus. Young age and lower audiogram threshold at presentation favour prognosis.

Keywords: Suddent Sensorineural Hearing Loss; Pure tone audiogram; steroids