What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a systematic review of literature from 1966 to March 2018, including 1508 papers, to update the Spanish Consensus on the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL).
What They Found
For diagnosis, mandatory tests include otoscopy, acumetry, tonal audiometry, speech audiometry, and tympanometry, followed by an MRI within 15 days of diagnosis. The consensus recommends treating all patients with steroids, either orally or intratympanically, with intratympanic rescue for systemic steroid failure. Follow-up is advised at day 7 and after 12 months, with results reported as absolute decibels recovered in pure tonal audiometry and improvement in speech audiometry.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This study provides updated guidelines for diagnosing and treating idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL), which could inform clinical practice. Canadian patients experiencing sudden hearing loss might benefit from these comprehensive diagnostic steps and the recommended steroid treatment protocols. The emphasis on early imaging and specific audiometry tests aims to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
Canadian Relevance
This study is not Canadian. While hyperbaric oxygenation is listed in the study's metadata, the abstract does not discuss HBOT as a treatment for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL), which is not a Health Canada-recognized indication for HBOT.
Study Limitations
The abstract does not detail the strength of evidence for the treatment recommendations, noting that treatment for ISSNHL remains controversial.