Treatment effectiveness according to frequencies in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss

The objective of the study is to evaluate combined hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and steroids on hearing in sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) patients.

A total of 50 patients with sudden hearing loss that started within 1 week and who received a combination of intravenous steroid therapy and HBOT in their medical treatment were assigned to the otolaryngology department for 1 week, followed by intravenous steroid therapy at 1 mg/kg/day and then reduced doses for 1 week. They were treated once in a hyperbaric chamber where they breathed 100% oxygen at 2.5 atm pressure for 60 min, for a total of 20 sessions.

Hearing loss was observed in 54% of participants in the right ear. Significant improvements were observed in hearing thresholds across all tested frequencies after treatment with a specific intervention (p < 0.001 for each comparison). Combined steroid and HBOT significantly improved hearing across low and high frequencies (p < 0.001). Improvement in hearing at low frequencies was significantly greater than at high frequencies (p < 0.01). Post hoc analysis showed greater hearing improvement at lower frequencies compared to higher ones.

This study demonstrated that combined steroid and HBOT significantly improves hearing thresholds in patients with idiopathic SSNHL, especially at lower frequencies.