Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy of Sudden Deafness

Abstract

This paper describes the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy of 27 patients with sudden deafness treated at Hiratsuka City Hospital Department of Otolaryngology during the past three years.
Steroid, ATP and 76% urografin were given to all patients, and some were given urokinase.
Some recovery of hearing was noted in 14 patients, but in 13 cases the treatment had no effect. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was used in 9 of these 13 patients, within 26 days of the onset of deafness.
Two of these 9 patients recovered completely, 2 were much improved, 3 were somewhat improved and 2 remained deaf. In the 7 patients who improved, improvement started during the hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Four patients who failed to respond to drug therapy and no hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Three of these 4 remained deaf, but the other improved spontaneously.
We conclude that hyperbaric oxygen therapy has a beneficial effect on sudden deafness.