Comparison of systemic, intratympanic and combination therapy of the steroids for the treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare the therapeutic effects of systemic, intratympanic and combination therapies (systemic+intratympanic) of steroids for the treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Material and Methods: Patients who presented and treated for sudden sensorineural hearing loss in our clinic between January 2009 and January 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. A total of 64 patients met the inclusion criteria and underwent a standard treatment with steroids. Among 64 patients, steroids were given by systemic, intratympanic and both routes in 26, 20 and 18 patients, respectively. The study included patients with disease onset less than 15 days duration. The groups were compared for the responses to the treatment. Hearing recovery was evaluated according to criteria of Furahashi. Results: The mean age of the patients was 48.81 years. Thirty-eight of the patients (59.3%) were males and 26 of the patients (40.7%) were females. The median values of the pure tone averages of systemic, intratympanic and combination therapy groups before treatment were 73 dB, 51.5 dB and 51.5dB respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant. After treatment, the median values of the pure tone averages were 38.5 dB, 33.5 dB and 35 dB, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference among the pure tone averages of the groups after treatment (p=0.388). Conclusion: Steroids, the only drugs with provenefficacy in the treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss, are effective for the hearing recovery. Nevertheless different ways of steroid administration did not effect the recovery rate. © 2013 by Türkiye Klinikleri.