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Updated: Jan 1, 2026
Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
SCORE risk scale as a prognostic factor after sudden sensorineural hearing loss
Matteo Cavaliere1, Pietro De Luca2, Alfonso Scarpa2
1Department of Otolarhinolaryngology, University Hospital "San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d'Aragona", Via Madonna di Fatima 53, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy. matorl@inwind.it.
Insights
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) treatment may benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) alongside steroids. Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a potential cardiovascular risk factor linked to SSNHL, possibly causing paradoxical embolisms.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Cardiology
- Neurology
Background:
- Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a complex condition with various potential causes and risk factors.
- Cardiovascular risk factors, including patent foramen ovale (PFO), are increasingly recognized as contributing to SSNHL.
- Current therapeutic strategies involve corticosteroids, but emerging evidence highlights the importance of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).
Discussion:
- This study emphasizes the critical role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as an adjunct treatment for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL).
- The application of the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCRE) scale is explored for risk stratification in SSNHL patients.
- The potential link between patent foramen ovale (PFO) and SSNHL is investigated, suggesting paradoxical embolism as a possible mechanism.
Key Insights:
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) should be considered alongside standard corticosteroid treatments for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL).
- Early intervention, ideally within 14 days of symptom onset, is crucial for optimal outcomes in SSNHL.
- A high prevalence of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in SSNHL patients suggests a potential association with paradoxical embolism.
Outlook:
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise mechanisms linking PFO to SSNHL and to optimize HBOT protocols.
- Integrating cardiovascular risk assessment into the management of SSNHL may improve patient outcomes.
- Developing standardized guidelines for the combined use of HBOT, corticosteroids, and PFO management in SSNHL is essential.
Abstract:
Menezes et al. recently published an interesting study on cardiovascular prognostic factors for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), analyzing therapeutic strategies with intravenous and intratympanic corticosteroids and evaluating the application of the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation risk scale to classify risk in patients with SSNHL. In addition to intravenous and intratympanic corticosteroids, we would like to stress the role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). The new guidelines on SSNHL and the most recent scientific evidence emphasize the therapeutic role of HBOT. In a previous study, we recommended the use of HBOT in addition to intravenous steroid for patients with idiopathic SSNHL. For the best outcomes, we also recommended starting treatment within 14 days from the onset of SSNHL. In the same article, we discussed potential risk factors for SSNHL. Among cardiovascular risk factors, we suggest the possible association between patent foramen ovale (PFO) and SSNHL. The higher prevalence of PFO in our patients (50%) compared to controls suggests that SSNHL may be attributable to a paradoxical embolism, such as a venous embolism as a result of PFO.
