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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To determine hearing recovery by using intratympanic dexamethasone for profound, idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL).

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING : A prospective, clinical study was performed of 25 consecutive patients seen with profound ISSNHL. Patients received 4 intratympanic treatments of dexamethasone over the course of 2 weeks. Complete hearing recovery was defined as the final pure-tone average (PTA) within 10 dB of baseline. Partial recovery was defined as a final PTA with >50% hearing. The hearing in the contralateral ear was used as baseline.

RESULTS : The average time to treatment was 28 days. Two patients had significant hearing recovery, and 1 additional patient had partial recovery. The 2 patients with significant hearing recovery were treated within 9 days of onset of hearing loss.

CONCLUSIONS : By using the treatment protocol and definition of hearing recovery of this study, intratympanic dexamethasone does not result in significant hearing improvement for patients with profound ISSNHL. There is a possible trend for improved hearing results if intratympanic treatment is performed within 11 days of onset of hearing loss.

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Intratympanic dexamethasone for profound idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Abstract

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References