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Updated: Aug 31, 2026
Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
Oral steroid treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a ten year retrospective analysis
Chu-Yao Chen1, Chris Halpin, Steven D Rauch
1Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan.
Objective:
To describe ten years of experience with Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss and compare the outcomes with and without treatment with oral corticosteroids.
Study Design:
Retrospective review of medical records.
Setting:
Large specialty hospital, Department of Otolaryngology.
Patients:
Patients presenting with sudden onset (72 hours) unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, with no evidence of Ménière's Disease, acoustic injury, retrocochlear disease, and other specifiable disorders.
Interventions:
The majority of patients received a standard course of oral corticosteroids (Prednisone 60 mg and taper). A smaller group declined treatment.
Main Outcome Measures:
Recovery of hearing sensitivity was measured using standard audiometry and reported as change in Pure Tone Average. Word recognition scores were also analyzed.
Results:
When severe-to-profound cases are analyzed, a significant improvement (p <.01) in Pure Tone Average is seen in cases treated with steroids versus those untreated. When milder cases are included, a statistical floor effect prevents differentiation of these groups. Word recognition scores were significantly improved (p <.05) in the treated group.
Conclusions:
Application of steroid medication significantly improves the recovery outcomes in cases of Severe Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.
