Adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen treatment for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

This study aims to evaluate the hearing gain efficacy from adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen (HBO₂) treatment in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL).

A retrospective analysis of chart reviews was performed on patients with ISSHL between January 2013 through December 2015. All patients were referred to us from our ENT Department for adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen treatment. The results were assessed through pure-tone audiometry (PTA) data change (hearing gain), both before and after HBO₂) treatment. Age, gender, affected ear side, HBO₂) treatment sessions, both before and after HBO₂ treatment PTA were all recorded.

Ninety-three (93) patients with ISSHL were included in the study. The average hearing gain in this study was 17.9 dB (p=0.001), where a total of 46 (49.46%) patients showed an improvement (hearing gain≥dB) in response to HBO₂ treatment (p=0.002). Patients with the poorest initial severity of hearing loss who displayed a greater degree of hearing improvement after HBO₂ treatment were male and in the 40- to 59-year-old age group.

This study found that adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen treatment was efficacious for patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. The total average hearing gain was recorded to be 17.9 dB.