Prognostic factors in idiopathic sudden hearing loss

A retrospective study of 60 cases of idiopathic sudden hearing loss admitted to the Department of Otolaryngology, Singapore General Hospital over a five year period was carried out. The age ranged from 16 years to 74 years. No racial predisposition was found. All cases were treated as an otological emergency and managed as inpatients. All were treated with high dose steroids. Fifty-five percent recovered their hearing significantly. Several factors associated with poorer recovery of hearing were found: severity of hearing loss; high tone loss; longer time from onset to initial audiogram; hypofunctioning vestibular organ and age older than 60 years and under 19 years.