Introduction:
Sudden severe hearing loss (SSHL) is equally common in men and women. The main causes of the SSHL maybe: vascular; virus; immunological; stress reaction etc. Currently, steroids (SD) consider the most common and effective method of treatment (TT) of SSHL. SDs can be used as a systemic (oral-p.o or intravenously- i.v) and locally (intratympanic-IT).
Material and Methods:
We selected SSHL patients between ages 35 – 50 y.o, chose them appropriate method of TT according to informed consent. Selected 60 patients (66 ears) divided three equal groups in each groups 20 patients-22 ears. The effectiveness of TT was assessed according to the pure tone audiometry-PAD which is performed before the TT, 10th days, and 1st, 3 rd and 6th months after the therapy. I group – received dexamethasone (DX) IT (according to the scheme: 4 mg every day for 14 days); II group -received DX i.v. (0.1 mg per 1 kg of body for 14 days, according to the scheme). III group – received SDs (DX 0.1 mg per kg of body for 14 days) and additional traditional complex systemic therapy.
Results:
During 1st month of the therapy, PTA- no statistically significant differences were found between the groups but after 6 months, the picture changed, and the highest frequency of positive clinical results was achieved in group I (73%, p < 0.05). At the same time, groups II and III differed insignificantly in terms of the number of positive clinical results – 55% and 46, respectively (p > 0.05). In Group I, the proportion of patients with complete hearing restoration was significantly higher than in groups II and III.
Conclusion:
Local ST can be advisable method of TT in SSHL especially when systemic therapy is not recommended and this method opens the possibility of outpatient TT of SSHL.
