Abstract
Objective: Determine the efficacy of a steroid regimen for patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and evaluate the relationship between outcome and initial steroid dose.
Method: A retrospective review of patients with SSNHL was conducted at our hospital from 2004 to 2008. The study group consisted of 272 patients in whom SSNHL was diagnosed. Patients received tapering courses of intravenous hydrocortisone (HC) with an initial dose of either 500 mg/d for 3 days or 300 mg/d.
Results: The overall recovery rates after treatment were 68% in total group. The time interval from onset of SSNHL to start of treatment was important for the outcome of hearing improvement. There is significant difference between the under and over 50 years old groups in improvement of HL. A total of 47% (n = 128) were treated with high dose (500 mg/d) HC, and 53% (n = 144) were treated with low dose (300 mg/d) HC. There were no significant differences between the high dose and low dose groups in terms of hearing outcome.
Conclusion: High dose steroid therapy had the same outcome as low dose steroid therapy against patients with SSNHL.
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