Prognostic Factors of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Children

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic factors of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in children. Materials and Methods: Sixty two children with SSNHL were analyzed in this study. Those who had probable etiology and different treatment were excluded. The factors that were demonstrated to have impact on prognosis were investigated. Results: Twenty-five ears (50%) were accompanied by tinnitus, 14 ears (28%) by vertigo. The recovery rate (including mild, significant and complete) of hearing loss in those ears with tinnitus was 52% (13 ears), whereas the recovery rate in those ears accompanied by vertigo was 28.5 % (4 ears). 23 ears (46%) had demonstrated total hearing loss at the beginning of treatment, with a recovery rate of 39%. The recovery rate of children who had given treatment within 10 days of the appearance of SSNHL was 69%. In bilateral cases (14 ears), the recovery rate was 36%. Conclusions: Of the factors investigated to put forth their effect on prognosis statistical significance was seen in only vertigo and delayed-onset (>10 days) of treatment. (p<0.05) But the relatively high ratios of nonrecovery in bilateral cases and in those cases with severe initial hearing loss, although no statistical significance was noted, seemed clinically significant.