What Researchers Did
Researchers investigated the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a salvage treatment for sudden sensorineural hearing loss in 93 patients who had not responded to initial steroid therapy.
What They Found
Among 93 patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss who failed steroid therapy, 43 received hyperbaric oxygen therapy and 50 did not. Patients with severe hearing loss (>61 dB) who received HBO therapy showed significant hearing improvement across all frequencies, while those with mild-to-moderate loss (≤60 dB) improved only at 250 and 500 Hz. The control group, which did not receive additional therapy, showed no hearing improvement.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients experiencing sudden sensorineural hearing loss who do not respond to initial steroid treatment, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may offer a chance for improved hearing. This therapy appears most beneficial for those with severe hearing loss, potentially improving hearing across all frequencies, whereas patients with milder loss might only see improvements at lower frequencies.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was not conducted in Canada or with Canadian participants.
Study Limitations
A limitation of this study is its relatively small sample size and the non-randomized allocation of patients to the hyperbaric oxygen therapy or control groups.