Abstract
Factors affecting the prognosis of sudden deafness were investigated by analyzing the clinical records of 127 patients with unilateral sudden deafness. The factors analyzed were gender, age, season of onset, the side affected, dizziness, levels and types of hearing impairment, and time elapsed before initiating therapy. Levels of hearing impairment and recovery were judged using the standard recommended by the Research Group for Sudden Deafness organized by the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare. Recovery levels were divided into five categories; complete recovery, moderate recovery, slight recovery, no change and worse. The results are as follows: 1.) The moderate recovery rate was higher in the group without dizziness than in the group with dizziness (p<0.05). 2.) The complete recovery rate was higher in the group with horizontal-low-tone or valley-type audiograms than in the group with other types of audiograms (p<0.01). 3.) The extent of hearing impairment present at the initial medical examination was an important factor affecting prognosis. 4.) Patients who received their initial therapy within seven days after the onset of sudden deafness had a higher complete recovery rate than other patients (p<0.01). 5.) Patients who received their initial therapy within 14 days after the onset of sudden deafness had a higher moderate recovery rate than those whose initial therapy was 15 or more days after onset (p<0.01). On the other hand, a significant correlation was found between the assessments of recovery at the seventh day and one month after the initial therapy.
