Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026
A Surgical Procedure for the Administration of Drugs to the Inner Ear in a Non-Human Primate Common Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)
Published on: February 27, 2018
Intratympanic dexamethasone for profound idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss
1Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois, USA. robert_battista@rush.edu
Objectives:
To determine hearing recovery by using intratympanic dexamethasone for profound, idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL).
Study Design And Setting:
A prospective, clinical study was performed of 25 consecutive patients seen with profound ISSNHL. Patients received 4 intratympanic treatments of dexamethasone over the course of 2 weeks. Complete hearing recovery was defined as the final pure-tone average (PTA) within 10 dB of baseline. Partial recovery was defined as a final PTA with >/=50% hearing. The hearing in the contralateral ear was used as baseline.
Results:
The average time to treatment was 28 days. Two patients had significant hearing recovery, and 1 additional patient had partial recovery. The 2 patients with significant hearing recovery were treated within 9 days of onset of hearing loss.
Conclusions:
By using the treatment protocol and definition of hearing recovery of this study, intratympanic dexamethasone does not result in significant hearing improvement for patients with profound ISSNHL. There is a possible trend for improved hearing results if intratympanic treatment is performed within 11 days of onset of hearing loss.
