American Journal of Medical and Clinical Sciences. 2023;
8(4):(95-138)
Treatments for Idiopathic Sudden Hearing Loss: Literature Review
Helena Wasilewski, Caroline Fernandes Rímoli, Júlia Pellenz Steffen, Tamini Laisa De Bastiani Gonçalves, Lívia Daniel Bianchin Marques, Leonardo Felipe de Sampaio Belotto.
Abstract
Idiopathic sudden hearing loss is characterized by an acute onset of hypoacusis, usually
unilateral, occurring in less than 72 hours and with a loss equal to or greater than 30
decibels (dB) in at least three consecutive audiometric frequencies. In 71% of cases, the
etiology is idiopathic. The symptoms are unpleasant and limiting, so a proper therapeutic
plan is needed to minimize the impact on patients' lives. The purpose of this study is to
describe treatment modalities, characterize the action mechanism, describe the efficacy
and identify the risks of the therapeutic modalities. This is a study of narrative literature
review; the articles were taken from Pubmed, Scielo, National Library of Medicine and
Google Scholar databases. 35 articles from 1995 to 2023 were analyzed. In the studies,
it was reported that treatment of idiopathic sudden hearing loss is controversial due
to the different etiological and pathophysiological theories, being based on: systemic
corticosteroid therapy, intratympanic corticosteroid therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy,
antivirals and vasoactive or vasodilating substances. It is concluded that, although there is
little high-quality evidence to prove the superiority of any treatment, those with the best
risk-benefit ratio should be used. Systemic corticosteroid therapy may be used, associated
or not with intratympanic corticosteroid therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy according
to availability. Antivirals and vasodilators may be disregarded.
