Abstract
Six hundred patients with sudden deafness visiting Kitasato University Hospital during the past 15 years were divided into two groups: group I, 150 seen in the past three years and group II, 450 seen in the previous 12 years.
There was no statistically significant difference in sex or incidence of vertigo between the two groups. Younger and older patients were significantly more numerous in group I. The interval between onset of symptom and first hospital visit was longer in group I than in group II. The average hearing level was equal in patients who visited our hospital within four days after the onset of symptom, but among patients whose first visit was later, the average hearing level was better in group I than in group II. These facts point to the improvement of diagnosis and treatment of sudden deafness among general otologists, as a result of research and information about sudden deafness by the Intractable Diseases Research Commitee of the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan. It is now easy for most general otologists to diagnose and treat this desease, so patients receive primary care for several days before being referred to our hospital for secondary treatment.
The number of cured and definitely improved patients has increased significantly. On the other hand, 20% of the patients in both groups did not show improvement. We must continue to work to improve the rate of cure and to define the cause and pathology of this disease.
