ARE INTRATYMPANIC STEROIDS OR HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY AS ADDITIONAL TREATMENTS TO SYSTEMIC STEROIDS EFFECTIVE IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH IDIOPATHIC SUDDEN SENSORINEURAL HEARING LOSS?

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of additional treatment modalities to systemic steroid regimen and to identify the prognostic factors in geriatric patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Materials and Method: A retrospective review of clinical data was performed for elderly patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss at a tertiary hospital between 2014 and 2019. Among 60 patients, 22 received only systemic steroids (Group 1); 16 received systemic and intratympanic steroids (Group 2) and the remaining 22 received systemic steroids and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (Group 3). Recovery rates based on the Siegel's criteria and hearing level gains were compared among the groups. Gender, treatment modalities, types of audiometry curve and comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus were evaluated in relation to prognosis. Results: Pure-tone averages were significantly decreased after treatment with all three treatment modalities; however, no superiority was observed in the three treatment regimens regarding hearing gain and recovery rate. Gender, treatment modalities, types of audiometry curve and hypertension and diabetes mellitus had no significant effects on hearing gain and recovery rate. Conclusion: Intratympanic steroids or hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjuvant to systemic steroids provide no better results compared with only systemic steroids in elderly patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.