Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy as Salvage Therapy for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

OBJECTIVE: To measure the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy as salvage therapy after the failure of steroid therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). MATERIALS and METHODS: Ninety-three patients with SSNHL were unsuccessfully treated with systemic steroid therapy. Following steroid therapy, 43 patients received additional HBO therapy while 50 did not. Hearing levels at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 kHz before and after therapy were measured. RESULTS: A significant difference in hearing thresholds after HBO therapy was found at all frequencies in patients with a hearing loss of >61 dB. The group of patients with a hearing threshold of <= 60 dB had a significant improvement only at 250 and 500 Hz, while group of patients without additional therapy control group showed no hearing improvement. CONCLUSION: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy therapy as salvage therapy for SSNHL showed some benefits in hearing improvement. Better results could be expected in patients with severe hearing loss, while in patients with mild-or-moderate hearing loss, recovery should be expected only at low frequencies.