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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
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Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
Bilateral versus unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
Jeong-Hoon Oh1, Keehyun Park, Seung Joo Lee
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Summary
Bilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is rare and has a lower recovery rate than unilateral SSNHL. Understanding these differences aids patient management.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Audiology
- Neurology
Background:
- Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is an otologic emergency.
- Bilateral SSNHL is less common than unilateral SSNHL.
- Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes for bilateral SSNHL require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the clinical features and treatment outcomes of bilateral (bi-) SSNHL and unilateral (uni-) SSNHL.
- To identify risk factors associated with bi-SSNHL.
- To evaluate hearing recovery rates in bi-SSNHL versus uni-SSNHL.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 324 SSNHL patients.
- Classification into simultaneous bi-SSNHL (n=16) and uni-SSNHL (n=308) groups.
- Comparison of clinical characteristics, medical history, hearing levels, and treatment results.
Main Results:
- Bi-SSNHL incidence was 4.9% of all SSNHL cases.
- Bi-SSNHL was more prevalent in older patients with diabetes mellitus and lipid abnormalities.
- Hearing recovery was observed in 62.5% of bi-SSNHL patients, but only 37.5% of affected ears showed recovery, significantly lower than in uni-SSNHL.
Conclusions:
- Bilateral SSNHL is rare and associated with poorer hearing recovery compared to unilateral SSNHL.
- Clinical differences between bi-SSNHL and uni-SSNHL include age, comorbidities, and lipid profiles.
- Recognizing these distinctions is crucial for effective patient counseling and management strategies.
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