Objectives: This study aims to investigate whether the time from the onset of symptoms to the start of treatment is a prognostic indicator in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL).
Patients and methods: In this study, 96 patients (58 males, 38 females; mean age 37.8±2.5 years; range 16 to 67 years) who were diagnosed with ISSNHL in our clinic between January 1992 and April 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were treated with dextran 40 (rheomacrodex), pentoxifyllin, vitamin B complex and vitamin C regimen over 10 days with hospitalization and bed rest. The patients were tested by pure-tone audiometry. Audiograms were obtained on alternate days and at the end of the treatment.
Results: There was a complete recovery in 45 (60%) of 75 patients whose treatment was started in the first seven days, while a partial recovery was observed in 17 (22.66%) and no recovery was observed in 13 (17.33%). There was a complete recovery in two (9.52%) of 21 patients whose treatment was started after the eighth day, while a partial recovery was observed in seven (33.33%) and no recovery was observed in 12 (57.14%).
Conclusion: Our study results suggest that treatment outcomes are better in the patients presenting to hospital at an early stage of loss of hearing.