Skip to main content

Main menu

  • HOME
  • ARTICLES
    • Current Issue
    • Ahead of Print
    • Archives
    • Abstracts In Press
    • Special Issue Archive
    • Subject Collections
  • INFO FOR
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Call For Papers
    • Subscribers
    • Advertisers
  • SUBMIT
    • Manuscript
    • Peer Review
  • ABOUT
    • The JABFM
    • The Editing Fellowship
    • Editorial Board
    • Indexing
    • Editors' Blog
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • Other Publications
    • abfm

User menu

Search

  • Advanced search
American Board of Family Medicine
  • Other Publications
    • abfm
American Board of Family Medicine

American Board of Family Medicine

Advanced Search

  • HOME
  • ARTICLES
    • Current Issue
    • Ahead of Print
    • Archives
    • Abstracts In Press
    • Special Issue Archive
    • Subject Collections
  • INFO FOR
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Call For Papers
    • Subscribers
    • Advertisers
  • SUBMIT
    • Manuscript
    • Peer Review
  • ABOUT
    • The JABFM
    • The Editing Fellowship
    • Editorial Board
    • Indexing
    • Editors' Blog
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • JABFM on Bluesky
  • JABFM On Facebook
  • JABFM On Twitter
  • JABFM On YouTube
Research ArticleClinical Review

Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Emergency

Andrew D. P. Prince and Emily Z. Stucken
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine January 2021, 34 (1) 216-223; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2021.01.200199
Andrew D. P. Prince
From the University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI (ADPP); Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (EZS).
BA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Emily Z. Stucken
From the University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI (ADPP); Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (EZS).
MD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

References

  1. 1.↵
    1. Dallan I,
    2. Fortunato S,
    3. Casani A,
    4. et al
    . Long-term follow up of sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients treated with intratympanic steroids: audiological and quality of life evaluation. J Laryngol Otol 2014;128:669–73.
    OpenUrl
  2. 2.↵
    1. Rauch S
    . Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. N Engl J Med 2008;359:833–40.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
  3. 3.↵
    1. Stew B,
    2. Fishpool S,
    3. Williams H
    . Sudden Sensorineural hearing loss. Brit J Hosp Med 2012;73:86–9.
    OpenUrl
  4. 4.↵
    1. Alexander T,
    2. Harris J
    . Incidence of sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Otol Neurotol 2013;34:1586–9.
    OpenUrl
  5. 5.↵
    1. Mattox D,
    2. Simmons F
    . Natural history of sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1977;86:463–80.
    OpenUrlPubMedWeb of Science
  6. 6.↵
    1. Byl F
    . Seventy-six cases of presumed sudden hearing loss occurring in 1973: prognosis and incidence. Laryngoscope 1977;87:817–25.
    OpenUrlPubMedWeb of Science
  7. 7.↵
    1. Chandrasekhar S,
    2. Tsai Do B,
    3. Schwartz S,
    4. et al
    . Clinical practice guideline: sudden hearing loss (update). Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2019;161:195–210.
    OpenUrlPubMed
  8. 8.↵
    1. Stachler R,
    2. Chandrasekhar S,
    3. Archer S,
    4. et al
    . Clinical practice guideline: sudden hearing loss. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2012;146:S1–S35.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
  9. 9.↵
    1. Cabana M,
    2. Rand C,
    3. Powe N,
    4. et al
    . Why don’t physicians follow clinical practice guidelines? A framework for improvement. JAMA 1999;282:1458–65.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
  10. 10.↵
    1. Ryan M
    . Adherence to clinical practice guidelines. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2017;157:548–50.
    OpenUrl
  11. 11.↵
    1. Witsell D,
    2. Khoury T,
    3. Schulz K,
    4. et al
    . Evaluation of compliance for treatment of sudden hearing loss: a CHEER Network study. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2016;155:48–55.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  12. 12.↵
    1. Federspil P
    . Drug-induced sudden hearing loss and vestibular disturbances. Adv Otorhinolaryngol 1981;27:144–58.
    OpenUrlPubMed
  13. 13.↵
    1. Govindaraju R,
    2. Omar R,
    3. Rajagopalan R,
    4. Norlisah R,
    5. Kwan-Hoong N
    . Hearing loss after noise exposure. Auris Nasus Larynx 2011;38:519–22.
    OpenUrlPubMed
  14. 14.↵
    1. Norris C
    . Drugs affecting the inner ear: a review of their clinical efficacy, mechanisms of action, toxicity, and place in therapy. Drugs 1988;36:754–72.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
  15. 15.↵
    1. Saunders J,
    2. Luxford W,
    3. Devgan K,
    4. Fetterman B
    . Sudden hearing loss in acoustic neuroma patients. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1995;113:23–31.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
  16. 16.↵
    1. Tunkel D,
    2. Bauer C,
    3. Sun G,
    4. et al
    . Clinical practice guideline: tinnitus. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2014;151:S1–S40.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  17. 17.↵
    1. Niu X,
    2. Zhang Y,
    3. Zhang Q,
    4. et al
    . The relationship between hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Acta Otolaryngol 2016;136:225–31.
    OpenUrlPubMed
  18. 18.↵
    1. Chiossoine-Kerdel J,
    2. Baguley D,
    3. Stoddart R,
    4. Moffat D
    . An investigation of the audiologic handicap associated with unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Am J Otol 2000;21:645–51.
    OpenUrlPubMed
  19. 19.↵
    1. Rosenfeld R,
    2. Shin J,
    3. Schwartz S,
    4. et al
    . Clinical practice guideline: otitis media with effusion (update). Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2016;154:S1–S41.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  20. 20.↵
    1. Schwartz S,
    2. Magit A,
    3. Rosenfeld R,
    4. et al
    . Clinical practice guideline (update): earwax (cerumen impaction). Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2017;156:S1–S29.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  21. 21.↵
    1. Ahmed O,
    2. Gallant S,
    3. Ruiz R,
    4. et al
    . Validity of the hum test, a simple and reliable alternative to the Weber test. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2018;127:402–5.
    OpenUrl
  22. 22.↵
    1. Conte G,
    2. Berardino D,
    3. Sina C,
    4. et al
    . MR imaging in sudden sensorineural hearing loss: time to talk. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2017;38:1475–9.
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  23. 23.↵
    1. Abele T,
    2. Besachio D,
    3. Quigley E,
    4. et al
    . Diagnostic accuracy of screening MR imaging using unenhanced axial CISS and coronal T2WI for detection of small internal auditory canal lesions. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2014;35:2366–70.
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  24. 24.↵
    1. Chandrasekhar S,
    2. Brackmann D,
    3. Devgan K
    . Utility of auditory brainstem response audiometry in diagnosis of acoustic neuromas. Am J Otol 1995;16:63–7.
    OpenUrlPubMedWeb of Science
  25. 25.↵
    1. Schmidt R,
    2. Sataloff R,
    3. Newman J,
    4. Spiegel J,
    5. Myers D
    . The sensitivity of auditory brainstem response testing for the diagnosis of acoustic neuromas. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2001;127:19–22.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  26. 26.↵
    1. Haynes DS,
    2. O’Malley M,
    3. Cohen S,
    4. Watford K,
    5. Labadie RF
    . Intratympanic dexamethasone for sudden sensorineural hearing loss after failure of systemic therapy. Laryngoscope 2007;117:3–15.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
  27. 27.↵
    1. Chen C,
    2. Halpin C,
    3. Rauch S
    . Oral steroid treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a ten year retrospective analysis. Otol Neurotol 2003;24:728–33.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
  28. 28.↵
    1. Silverstein H,
    2. Choo D,
    3. Rosenberg SI,
    4. Kuhn J,
    5. Seidman M,
    6. Stein I
    . Intratympanic steroid treatment of inner ear disease and tinnitus (preliminary report). Ear Nose Throat J 1996;75:468–71.
    OpenUrlPubMed
  29. 29.↵
    1. Spear S,
    2. Schwartz S
    . Intratympanic steroids for sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a systematic review. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2011;145:534–43.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  30. 30.↵
    1. Parnes L,
    2. Sun A,
    3. Freeman D
    . Corticosteroid pharmacokinetics in the inner ear fluids: an animal study followed-up by clinical application. Laryngoscope 1999;109:1–17.
    OpenUrlPubMedWeb of Science
  31. 31.↵
    1. Chandrasekhar S
    . Intratympanic dexamethasone for sudden sensorineural hearing loss: clinical and laboratory evaluation. Otol Neurotol 2001;22:18–23.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
  32. 32.↵
    1. Battaglia A,
    2. Burchette R,
    3. Cueva R
    . Combination therapy (intratympanic dexamethasone + high-dose prednisone taper) for the treatment of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Otology & Neurotology 2008;29:453–60.
    OpenUrl
  33. 33.↵
    1. Ahn HJ,
    2. Han WM,
    3. Kim HJ,
    4. Chung WJ,
    5. Yoon TH
    . Therapeutic effectiveness over time of intratympanic dexamethasone as salvage treatment of sudden deafness. Acta Otolaryngol 2008;128:128–31.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  34. 34.↵
    1. Crane R,
    2. Camilon M,
    3. Nguyen S,
    4. Meyer T
    . Steroids for treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Laryngoscope 2015;125:209–17.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  35. 35.↵
    1. Garavello W,
    2. Galluzzi F,
    3. Gaini R,
    4. Zanetti D
    . Intratympanic steroid treatment for sudden deafness: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Otol Neurotol 2012;33:724–9.
    OpenUrlPubMed
  36. 36.↵
    1. Mirian C,
    2. Oveseen T
    . Intratympanic vs systemic corticosteroids in first-line treatment of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2020;146:421–428.
    OpenUrl
  37. 37.↵
    1. Lim HJ,
    2. Kim YT,
    3. Choi SJ,
    4. et al
    . Efficacy of 3 different steroid treatments for sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a prospective, randomized trial. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2013;148:121–7.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  38. 38.↵
    1. Rauch SD,
    2. Halpin CF,
    3. Antonelli PJ,
    4. et al
    . Oral vs intratympanic corticosteroid therapy for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a randomized trial. JAMA 2011;305:2071–9.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  39. 39.↵
    1. Kavita S,
    2. Dinesh S,
    3. Jatinder S
    . Efficacy of oral vs. intratympanic corticosteroids in sudden sensorineural hearing loss. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol 2016;27:371–7.
    OpenUrl
  40. 40.↵
    1. Ahn JH,
    2. Yoo MH,
    3. Yoon TH,
    4. Chung JW
    . Can intratympanic dexamethasone added to systemic steroids improve hearing outcome in patients with sudden deafness? Laryngoscope 2008;118:279–82.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  41. 41.↵
    1. Fisch U,
    2. Nagahara K,
    3. Pollak A
    . Sudden hearing loss: circulatory. Am J Otol 1984;5:488–91.
    OpenUrlPubMed
  42. 42.↵
    1. Li Y
    . Interventions in the management of blood viscosity for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a meta-analysis. J Health Res Rev 2017;4:50–61.
    OpenUrl
  43. 43.↵
    1. Gill A,
    2. Bell C
    . Hyperbaric oxygen: its uses, mechanisms of action and outcomes. QJM 2004;97:385–95.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
  44. 44.↵
    1. Bennett M,
    2. Kertesz T,
    3. Perleth M,
    4. Yeung P,
    5. Lehm J
    . Hyperbaric oxygen for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012;10:CD0043739.
    OpenUrl
  45. 45.↵
    1. Yang C,
    2. Wu R,
    3. Hwang C
    . Comparison of intratympanic steroid injection, hyperbaric oxygen and combination therapy in refractory sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Otol Neurotol 2013;34:1411–6.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  46. 46.↵
    1. Moon I,
    2. Lee J,
    3. Kim J,
    4. Hong S,
    5. Lee W
    . Intratympanic dexamethasone is an effective method as a salvage treatment in refractory sudden hearing loss. Otol Neurotol 2011;32:1432–6.
    OpenUrlPubMed
  47. 47.↵
    1. de Oliveira Penido N,
    2. Ramos HVL,
    3. Barros FA,
    4. Cruz OLM,
    5. Toledo RN
    . Clinical, etiological and progression factors of hearing in sudden deafness. Brazil J Otorhinolaryngol 2005;71:633–8.
    OpenUrl
  48. 48.↵
    1. Hol M,
    2. Bosman A,
    3. Snik A,
    4. Mylanus E,
    5. Cremers C
    . Bone-anchored hearing aids in unilateral inner ear deafness: an evaluation of audiometric and patient outcome measurements. Otol Neurotol 2005;26:999–1006.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
  49. 49.↵
    1. Blasco M,
    2. Redleaf M
    . Cochlear implantation in unilateral sudden deafness improves tinnitus and speech comprehension: meta-analysis and systematic review. Otol Neurotol 2014;35:1426–32.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  50. 50.↵
    1. Gaylor JM,
    2. Raman G,
    3. Chung M,
    4. et al
    . Cochlear implantation in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2013;139:265–72.
    OpenUrl
PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

The Journal of the American Board of Family     Medicine: 34 (1)
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
Vol. 34, Issue 1
January/February 2021
  • Table of Contents
  • Table of Contents (PDF)
  • Cover (PDF)
  • Index by author
  • Back Matter (PDF)
  • Front Matter (PDF)
Print
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on American Board of Family Medicine.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Emergency
(Your Name) has sent you a message from American Board of Family Medicine
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the American Board of Family Medicine web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
10 + 0 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.
Citation Tools
Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Emergency
Andrew D. P. Prince, Emily Z. Stucken
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine Jan 2021, 34 (1) 216-223; DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2021.01.200199

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Emergency
Andrew D. P. Prince, Emily Z. Stucken
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine Jan 2021, 34 (1) 216-223; DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2021.01.200199
Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Jump to section

  • Article
    • Abstract
    • Introduction
    • Case Report
    • CPGs for SSNHL
    • Discussion
    • Conclusion
    • Notes
    • References
  • Figures & Data
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • No related articles found.
  • PubMed
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • Correlation between right-to-left shunt and sudden sensorineural hearing loss: protocol for a case-control study
  • Advancing Research Methods for Common Problems in Family Medicine and Family Medicine Practice Management
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • Interpretating Normal Values and Reference Ranges for Laboratory Tests
  • Non-Surgical Management of Urinary Incontinence
  • Screening and Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes in Sickle Cell Disease
Show more Clinical Review

Similar Articles

Keywords

  • Audiology
  • Clinical Decision-Making
  • Conductive Hearing Loss
  • Family Medicine
  • Family Physicians
  • Otolaryngology
  • Primary Health Care
  • Sudden Hearing Loss

Navigate

  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues

Authors & Reviewers

  • Info For Authors
  • Info For Reviewers
  • Submit A Manuscript/Review

Other Services

  • Get Email Alerts
  • Classifieds
  • Reprints and Permissions

Other Resources

  • Forms
  • Contact Us
  • ABFM News

© 2025 American Board of Family Medicine

Powered by HighWire