Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2016 Feb;59(2):104-109. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2016.59.2.104.

Clinical Characteristics and Hearing Results of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Child

• Shin DJ
• Jung EK
• Sung CM
• Lee SS
• Cho HH
• Cho YB

• KMID: 2155056
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2016.59.2.104

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in children can occur just as can in adults; in fact, it may last throughout the entire life of a child, affecting the individual much more than when it does to an adult. As there are only a few studies that have focused on SSNHL in childhood, we investigated the clinical characteristics and hearing outcomes of pediatric SSNHL.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
A retrospective review of patients from November 2005 to May 2014 was carried out. Thirty nine patients under the age 15, who were hospitalized due to SSNHL were enrolled. Of these patients, 226 patients over the age of 15 were collected as a comparison group. Age, sex, underlying disease, site of hearing loss and duration from the onset to treatment were analyzed. We evaluated the overall recovery rate as well as the recovery rate according to accompanying diseases.
RESULTS
Recovery rates were comparable between the pediatric and the adult group. Overall recovery rate was 60% in the pediatric group. Unlike for the adult group, dizziness and tinnitus were not a prognostic factor in the pediatric group. Pediatric patients showed similar overall recovery, whether the treatment initiation was under 7 days or more. Recurrence was seen in 3 patients, of which 2 showed complete recovery.
CONCLUSION
The recovery rate for SSNHL was similar for the pediatric and the adult groups. A higher recurrence rate may alert clinicians to be aware of hearing changes after the recovery in pediatric patients.

Keyword

Children; Prognosis; Sensorineural hearing loss; Steroids; Sudden deafness

MeSH Terms

Adult
Child*
Dizziness
Hearing Loss
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural*
Hearing Loss, Sudden
Hearing*
Humans
Prognosis
Recurrence
Retrospective Studies
Steroids
Tinnitus
Steroids