A Long-term Prognosis of Sudden Deafness with Vertigo; A Retrospective Study

Abstract

We experienced 52 patients with idiopathic sudden deafness with vertigo treated at our hospital between 1992 and 1997. In order to investigate influences of long-term canal paresis (CP) on the patients' hearing prognosis and activity in their daily life, we examined caloric test, audiometry and several questionnaires with 30 out of 52 patients over long-term intervals (14-75 months) after the onset. These examinations revealed that 20 out of 30 patients had persistent CP and poor prognosis of hearing. Those with persistent CP also had a handicap in their everyday life because of the dizziness induced by head and body movements, resulting in disturbance of their mood. It is notable that hearing level of those with persistent CP was worsened during long-term follow up (more than 5 years).