Predictive Factors for Recovery in Idiopathic Sensory Neural Hearing Loss

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is an otological emergency that is defined as a hearing loss greater than 30 dB over three consecutive frequencies within 72 hours, with abnormalities of the cochlea, auditory nerve, or central auditory system.1 During 2006 and 2007, the annual incidence of SSNHL was 5-27/100,000 persons per year in the United states.2,3 The causative etiologies for SSNHL included viruses, microcirculation abnormalities, and autoimmune disorders. However, definitive evidence remains elusive.4,5 Currently, steroids are the treatment of choice due to their effects on the inner ear such as immunosuppression and circular enhancement.6,7 Combined systemic and intra-tympanic steroid treatment has previously been reported to be beneficial for SSNHL patients, with overall better treatment outcomes.8,9 However, due to the heterogeneous pathological nature and spontaneous recovery potential of the disease, few controlled studies exist in the literature. As a result, the treatment strategies of SSNHL remain a controversial issue in clinicalpractice .10 The condition exhibits a wide age distribution , with an average of 50-60 years and no sex preference. The hearing loss is unilateral in most Population studies of sudden sensorineural hearing loss cases, with bilateral involvement reported in less than 5%. 11 The severity of the hearing loss is divided roughly equally into mild, moderate, and severe profound. The configuration of the hearing loss varies and can affect high, low, or all frequencies. Tinnitus occurs in about 80% of patients, and vertigo, indicating an associated peripheral vestibular dysfunction, in about 30%. 12 The response to medical therapy shows inconsistent results regarding symptoms especially hearing loss may be due to the uncertainty about the cause of the disease and its progress. little is known about the factors which may contribute to either success or failure of the medical therapy. Aim of work 1. To evaluate the factors c