Intratympanic Injection in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate intratympanic corticosteroid injection in cases with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Material and Methods: Seventy patients with sudden onset sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) were included in this study; 40 females and 30 males. Their age ranged from 14 to 67 years old. The hearing loss was graded into mild, moderate, severe and profound SNHL. The patients were classified into 3 groups according to the treatment modality; Group I did not receive corticosteroid therapy and included 10 patients, group II received systemic corticosteroid therapy and included 15 patients and group III received intratympanic corticosteroid therapy and included 45 patients. Results: In group I, 30% of patients showed improvement and in group II, 40% of patients showed improvement and in group III, 82% showed improvement of hearing. Conclusion: Intratympanic corticosteroid therapy for SSNHL has a better success rate than systemic corticosteroid therapy and control patients with no treatment. It has a low incidence of complications. Patients with mild and moderate hearing loss have a better prognosis than patients with severe and profound hearing loss.