Otoacoustic Emissions in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Changes of Measures with Treatment

Introduction:To identify changes in OAEs parameters m treatment course of idiopathic suddensensorineural hearing loss (iSSNHL).Materials and Methods:In aprospective studyfromAugust 2005 to January 2009, 26 patients with iSSNHL underwentconventional audio metry/tympa nometry and two types of OAEs (TEOAEs and DPOAEs)befure and after the completion of standard drug therapy. The changes in pre- and posttreatmentparameters were compared with each other and with normal-contralateral ears .Results:In TEOAEs, the mean overall correlation (reproducibility) and the mean overall strength ininvolved ears were 1O.96±23.36 and 0.99±3.45 dB, respectively, before the treatment, whichreached 22.88±36.55 and 1.85±5.3, respectively, after the treatment (P 0.05). Significantdifference between correlation score (average of correlations at 3-4 involved frequencies)before and after treatment was found: 6.52 ±l8.19 vs. 21.67±37.8 (P 0.034). The differencebetween pre- and post-treatmentoverall correlation and correlation score in the responsegroup were significant (P 0.031). In DPOAEs ofthe involved ears, the mean DPl level andthe DPl signal-to-noiseratio changes were not significant with the treatment (P 0.05).Conclusion:Evoked OAEs, especially TEOAEs, are objective , rapid, and sensitive tools in the treatmentcourse ofiSSNHL.Keywords:Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss, Otoacoustic emissions, Response, Treatment