What Researchers Did
Australian and New Zealand researchers reviewed referral data from eight hyperbaric facilities across two time periods, five years before and three years after the 2014 addition of sudden hearing loss to UHMS approved indications, to assess whether guideline changes shifted clinical practice.
What They Found
HBOT for sudden hearing loss increased from 3.2% to 12.1% of all hyperbaric cases after the guideline change (p less than 0.0009). However, only 3 of 7 facilities showed a statistically significant increase, and one facility accounted for the majority of sudden hearing loss cases in both periods.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Even after international medical bodies formally endorse HBOT for sudden hearing loss, actual adoption varies widely by centre. Canadian patients experiencing sudden hearing loss should ask whether their regional hyperbaric facility treats this condition, since referral practices differ significantly between centres.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
The study was retrospective and limited to Australia and New Zealand; referral patterns and guideline adoption may differ in Canada where HBOT availability and coverage structures are different.