What Researchers Did
Researchers in Croatia reviewed records from 106 patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) to determine whether age affects how well patients recover, and whether HBOT played a role in outcomes.
What They Found
Younger patients recovered more hearing on average (negative correlation between age and hearing gain, r = -0.296, p < 0.05), and younger females did significantly better than younger males. Early treatment start was the strongest predictor of recovery (χ² = 9.04, p < 0.01), and having a normal hearing level in the other ear was also associated with better outcomes. Age alone did not reach statistical significance in the final multivariate model (p = 0.054) but improved its overall accuracy (AUC = 0.781).
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Sudden hearing loss is a medical emergency, and this study reinforces that Canadians experiencing it must seek treatment immediately, waiting even a few days reduces the chance of recovery. HBOT was used as part of the treatment protocol, and the finding that early intervention is the top predictor of recovery applies directly to patients considering HBOT as an add-on to steroid therapy.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This is a single-centre retrospective study with 106 patients, which limits the ability to control for all variables affecting recovery, including the exact HBOT protocols used.