Sudden hearing loss and early hyperbaric oxygen therapy: A preliminary study

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Hyperbaric Medicine
• Audiology

Background:

• Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is an urgent condition requiring timely intervention.
• Conventional treatments like corticosteroids have limitations and potential side effects.
• Investigating alternative or adjunctive therapies for SSNHL is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess hearing improvement in idiopathic SSNHL patients treated solely with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy.
• To evaluate the efficacy of early HBO2 intervention (within 72 hours of onset) as a primary treatment.
• To determine hearing recovery rates in patients with contraindications or aversion to corticosteroids.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of adult patients diagnosed with idiopathic SSNHL between 2012 and 2021.
• Inclusion criteria: SSNHL diagnosis, HBO2 therapy initiation within 72 hours, no corticosteroid use.
• HBO2 protocol: Minimum 10 sessions, 85 minutes each, 2.5 ATA pressure with pure oxygen.

Main Results:

• 49 patients (mean age 47 years) met the criteria.
• Significant mean hearing threshold improvement from 69.8 dB to 31.4 dB (p<0.001).
• Complete hearing recovery observed in 71.4% (35/49) of patients.

Conclusions:

• Early HBO2 therapy (within 3 days) shows a positive impact on idiopathic SSNHL.
• This suggests HBO2 may be an effective standalone treatment when steroids are contraindicated or avoided.
• Further research can validate HBO2 as a primary therapeutic option for SSNHL.