What Researchers Did
Researchers investigated hearing recovery in 51 patients with sudden, severe hearing loss to see how their hearing improved after different treatments, including some who received hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
What They Found
Most patients, 44 out of 51, achieved ultimate hearing levels between 55 and 80 dB, with only seven patients remaining worse than 100 dB. Two patients experienced a complete recovery, reaching hearing levels better than 20 dB. The study found no significant difference in hearing recovery between patients treated in an outpatient setting and those treated in the hospital, which included additional hyperbaric oxygen therapy or nerve blocks. Patients who started recovering within 14 days from onset generally achieved better ultimate hearing levels (better than 80 dB) compared to those who started recovering later.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients experiencing sudden, profound hearing loss, these findings suggest that some level of hearing recovery is possible, with a small chance of complete recovery. While hyperbaric oxygen therapy was part of the hospital treatment group, this study did not clearly show it provided a distinct advantage over outpatient care for overall hearing improvement. However, the timing of treatment initiation appears important, as starting recovery earlier may lead to better long-term hearing outcomes.
Canadian Relevance
This study was not conducted by Canadian authors or in Canada. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is not currently a Health Canada-recognized indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Study Limitations
This study had a relatively small sample size of 51 patients, and the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy were not isolated, as it was combined with other treatments or nerve blocks in the hospital group.