Recurrent sudden sensorineural hearing loss sensitive to transtympanic and systemic steroid treatment: case report. Ear Nose Throat J 2009 Mar;88(3):E14-9
Date
03/18/2009Pubmed ID
19291620Scopus ID
2-s2.0-65349091379 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 3 CitationsAbstract
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a rare otologic emergency. Recurrence of this pathology is extremely rare, and its incidence remains unknown. We report the case of a previously healthy 28-year-old man with normal findings on bilateral ear examination who presented with severe unilateral SSNHL. Audiometry demonstrated a pure-tone average of 70 dB and a speech discrimination score of 0% in the affected ear. The patient was treated within hours of the onset of symptoms with an intratympanic injection of dexamethasone and then started on a tapered course of oral prednisone. He experienced a full recovery based on repeat audiometric testing 7 days later. However, 1 year later, the patient experienced a repeat episode of SSNHL in the same ear. Management again included an intratympanic injection and an oral steroid course with good results. A complete metabolic and radiographic evaluation failed to identify a cause of the hearing loss. This case represents a highly unusual instance of recurrent SSNHL of unknown etiology.
Author List
Scapa VI, Friedland DRMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Administration, OralAdult
Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Audiometry, Pure-Tone
Dexamethasone
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural
Humans
Injections
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Prednisone
Severity of Illness Index
Speech Perception
Tympanic Membrane
