Abstract
Acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss (ALHL) sometimes recurs and converts to Meniere's disease. The following has been reported as prognostic factors; the age at onset, period from onset to the first visit, hearing threshold of 1000Hz at the first examination, and the degree of hearing acuity. However, relationships between the hearing level and prognosis remain unclear. We examined 361 patients with ALHL who were admitted to Nagoya City University Hospital, and analyzed their background and prognosis. Thereafter, the data of 64 patients who were followed up for longer than 1 year were analyzed in detail to determine the relationship between the hearing level and the prognosis. The hearing level at the first visit had no relevance to the prognosis, whereas that at 1 month was significantly related to the prognosis. In conclusion, careful observation for 1 month is necessary because the hearing level can fluctuate in some cases.
