Salvage intra-tympanic steroid therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing
loss (SSNHL): Our real life experience in 32 patients
Abstract
• This is a retrospective case series study examining the role of
salvage intratympanic steroid injections (ITS) in patients presenting
with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) following poor
response to initial oral steroid treatment. • Pure tone thresholds were
reviewed pre-treatment, post oral steroid therapy and 6 weeks post ITS.
• After oral steroid therapy alone, there was a mean average threshold
change of 6.2dBHL (range of -13.8dB to 33.8dB). This was found to be
statistically significant with severely affected patients (defined as
average presenting threshold >71dB). • The mean average
threshold improvement post-ITS therapy was 2.9dB (range of -22.5dB to
61.3dB), this was not found to be statistically significant. • Some
patients experienced moderate improvement following ITS therapy, however
no specific subgroup was identified to benefit more from ITS therapy.