Intratympanic corticosteroids for sudden idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss

Objective: To determine whether instillation of intratympanic steroids is effective in the treatment of sudden idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss. Methods: A retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent intratympanic steroid treatment (methylprednisolone and/or dexamethasone) between 1996 and 2002 at a tertiary care university otology clinic. Thirty-three patients were identified, of which 26 met inclusion criteria for having an idiopathic hearing loss. Pretreatment and posttreatment pure-tone audiograms and speech discrimination scores were compared. Results: Overall, there was a 27.2 +/- 5.7dB improvement in the pure-tone thresholds and a 25.4 +/- 6.2% improvement in speech discrimination scores. Those treated within 10 days of onset had a statistically significant better outcome than those treated after 10 days. No adverse reactions or complications were reported. Conclusion: Instillation of intratympanic steroids represents a safe and potentially effective treatment of sudden idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss.