Early Treatment Key in Sudden Deafness?
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By
September 30, 2025
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2 min
A retrospective study involving 248 patients indicates that early corticosteroid therapy and younger age correlate with improved hearing outcomes in sudden deafness. Patients who started treatment within 7 days exhibited better hearing gains, especially in flat descending and total deafness cases. Younger individuals also fared well in these subtypes. Although adjunctive therapies like hyperbaric oxygen therapy showed limited benefits, intratympanic corticosteroid injections provided further improvement for those unresponsive to systemic therapy. Conducted at a single hospital in Chongqing, China, the findings underscore the critical timing of treatment and age factors in managing sudden deafness symptoms.
1. Early corticosteroid therapy improves sudden deafness outcomes. 2. Younger patients show better recovery in hearing. 3. Ideal corticosteroid treatment initiation is within 7 days. 4. Adjunctive therapies like acupuncture did not enhance recovery. 5. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy had limited positive effects. 6. Intratympanic corticosteroid may aid those unresponsive to systemic therapies. 7. Study limitations include retrospective design and a uniform injection protocol.
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