What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 20 studies involving 1,687 patients to determine whether HBOT improves hearing recovery in people with sudden unexplained hearing loss (sudden sensorineural hearing loss, or SSNHL).
What They Found
Patients who received HBOT in addition to standard medical treatment had 2.61 times higher odds of recovering hearing compared to those on medical treatment alone (95% CI 1.86–3.68, p < 0.001). This benefit held up even when HBOT was added on top of both systemic steroids and intratympanic steroid injections.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Sudden hearing loss affects thousands of Canadians each year and can be permanently disabling. This meta-analysis — the highest quality type of evidence — strongly supports adding HBOT to steroid treatment for the best chance of recovery, particularly when started early.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
HBOT protocols varied widely across the included studies, making it difficult to identify the optimal pressure, session length, and number of treatments.