Hyperbaric oxygen in the treatment of sudden deafness

Currently, the treatment of sudden deafness (SD) is based mainly on complete bed rest and the administration of corticosteroids. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has previously been suggested as adjunctive treatment. We describe two cases of successful HBOT for SD. The first patient presented with moderate mid-frequency hearing loss without accompanying symptoms, whereas the second patient had moderate low-frequency hearing loss with persistent tinnitus and a single episode of vertigo. HBOT in addition to conventional treatment soon after diagnosis resulted in full recovery of hearing in both patients. The pathogenesis of SD may involve a reduction in cochlear blood flow and perilymph oxygenation, making early HBOT a reasonable treatment modality for this condition.