Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026
Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
Audiogram Configuration Predicts Treatment Response in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Li Guo1,2, Junli Wang1,2, Ying Gao1,2
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
Objective:
To test whether the configuration of the initial pure tone audiogram (ascending, descending, flat or total-deaf) predicts complete recovery and to explore its value as a building block for prognostic models.
Study Design:
Retrospective cohort study.
Setting:
Single tertiary care centre.
Methods:
Adults with unilateral ISSNHL treated from January 2012 to December 2019 were categorised by audiogram configuration. Baseline characteristics and treatments were recorded. Multivariable logistic regression identified independent predictors of complete recovery; model performance was summarised by AUC and Nagelkerke R2.
Results:
Among 487 patients (43.8% flat, 29.4% descending, 21.9% total-deaf, 4.9% ascending), 80 (16.4%) achieved complete recovery. Complete recovery occurred in 50.0% of ascending, 25.2% flat, 9.8% descending and 0% total-deaf. Descending (OR 0.25; 95% CI 0.15-0.42) and total-deaf (OR 0.05; 95% CI 0.01-0.22) configurations independently predicted worse outcomes. Age and higher initial PTA were also negative predictors. AUC = 0.78; Nagelkerke R2 = 0.32.
Conclusion:
The initial audiogram configuration is an independent prognostic marker in ISSNHL. Ascending and flat patterns confer better prognosis than descending and total-deaf patterns; such classifications should be integrated into clinical risk stratification and future predictive models.
