What Researchers Did
Doctors reviewed the medical records of adults who had sudden hearing loss and were treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, to see how they did and whether other health conditions affected their results.
What They Found
This retrospective chart review of 19 patients found hearing test scores improved after hyperbaric oxygen therapy was added to steroid treatment. The average pure tone hearing threshold improved from 50.3 dB to 36.0 dB (p less than 0.01), and word discrimination scores changed from 73% to 79% (p less than 0.05). Among patients who reported feeling better, 57% had a complete recovery by a standard hearing scale. Patients started hyperbaric oxygen therapy an average of 34.2 days after their hearing loss began and received an average of 13 sessions. The researchers found no significant link between overall health condition burden and outcomes, but noted that patients with rheumatologic disorders were less likely to respond.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadians with sudden sensorineural hearing loss who receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy alongside steroids, this study suggests hearing measures may improve, though the design cannot rule out other factors like natural recovery. Patients with rheumatologic conditions should know the study found this group was less likely to respond. The findings do not establish whether the timing of treatment affects outcomes, as this was not analyzed in the study.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This was a small, retrospective, uncontrolled review of just 19 patients at a single center, so it cannot separate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy from the hearing loss's natural course over time.