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Updated: May 16, 2026
Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
Quality of life reported by patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss
Hajime Sano1, Makito Okamoto, Kentaro Ohhashi
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan. sanohj@med.kitasato-u.ac.jp
Objective:
This study evaluated quality of life (QOL) in the patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL).
Study Design:
Cross-sectional study.
Setting:
Multicenter clinical investigation in ten university hospitals.
Patients:
In total, 167 patients with ISSHL and 134 patients with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (BSHL; control) were included.
Main Outcome Measures:
The Short Form Health Survey Version 2 was used to assess the health-related QOL.
Results:
The average scores of 8 domains and 2 summary components were similar between the 2 groups. All scores except those for bodily pain (BP) in ISSHL patients and BP and vitality in BSHL patients were significantly lower than the Japanese average. Scores for the mental component summary (MCS) were especially low in ISSHL patients. MCS scores of ISSHL patients aged 40 to 49, 50 to 59, 60 to 69, and 70 years or older were significantly lower than the Japanese average for each age group. MCS scores of BSHL patients 70 years or older were significantly lower than the Japanese average. Two-way analysis of variance revealed no significant association of disease (ISSHL and BSHL) and age with MCS score. Interactions were also not significant. The effects of sex, age, hearing level, and time interval from the onset on MCS scores of ISSHL patients were evaluated using multiple regression analysis. Age and time interval from the onset were observed to be significant confounders.
Conclusion:
The QOL of patients with ISSHL deteriorated especially in terms of mental functioning. Similar deterioration was observed in BSHL patients.
