Effect of intratympanic steroid therapy in sudden sensorineural hearing loss: Our clinical experience

The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy of intratympanic steroid injection (ITS) in reducing irreversible sensorineural hearing loss in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). Between February 2018 and February 2024, a total of eighteen patients diagnosed with SSHL and treated with ITS were analyzed in this retrospective study. Hearing levels of all patients were determined before and after treatment. An audiometer from the brand "Interacoustics AD629 Diagnostic Audiometer" was used for audiological assessment. The data was divided into 2 groups, one for midrange frequencies mean (250-500–1000-2000 Hz) and the other for treble frequencies means hearing level (4000-80000Hz), these measures were compared before and after treatment. Hearing levels improved significantly after treatment. Mean midrange frequencies decreased from 44.35±27.23 dB pre-procedure to 35.46±29.49 dB postprocedure (p<0.001). Treble frequencies were decreased from 58.19±28.87 dB before treatment to 50.28±29.8 dB after the end of therapy (p<0.001). Speech discrimination score improved from 79.41±27.11 preoperatively to 82.44±26.93 (p<0.001).ITS can significantly improve hearing levels in patients with SSHL. The results show that intra-tympanic steroids may be an effective treatment for sudden SSHL. Yet, these findings call for further validation in larger-scale randomized controlled trials. We hope that future research will help in developing treatment protocols for ITS including the optimal dose, duration of administration, and long-term impact.