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Updated: Jan 14, 2026
Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
Interventions for sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a systematic review and quality assessment of clinical practice
Lauren K Dillard1,2, Pallavi Mishra1, Carolina Der1
1Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Objective:
Conduct a systematic review of clinical practice guidelines for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) to identify interventions related to the diagnosis and management of SSNHL. Results from this review will inform the development of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Package for Ear and Hearing Care Interventions (PEHCI).
Design:
We searched for clinical practice guidelines, published from 2014 onwards, across four databases and websites for audiology/otolaryngology professional organisations, that report recommendations on diagnosis and management of SSNHL. We assessed the quality of the clinical practice guidelines using the AGREE II tool. All review processes were performed by two independent reviewers.
Sample:
Following the screening and quality appraisal, we identified three high-quality clinical practice guidelines relevant to SSNHL.
Results:
Specific interventions focused on the (1) diagnosis of SSNHL with clinical tests, (2) management of SSNHL with patient education, medical management with steroid use with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (when warranted), and (3) follow-up in terms of outcomes assessment with clinical tests and accompanied by rehabilitation when warranted.
Conclusions:
The clinical practice guidelines detailed recommendations on the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of patients with SSNHL. The interventions derived from these guidelines will inform the selection of interventions for inclusion in the WHO PEHCI.
