Efficacy of Intratympanic Steroid Injection in Resistant Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss with Failure of Systemic Therapy

Intratympanic steroid injection is an effective method in treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in cases resisted to systemic therapy. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of intratympanic injection.

This case-series study was carried out on fifteen patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss that had failed systemic therapy. Audiometric evaluation (PTA) performed before and after treatment and intratympanic dexametasone injection performed and the amount of improvement evaluated. Data Analysis was done using SPSS11.

In male patients, 33.3% partial and 33.3% complete improvement and in female patients, 18.6% partial and 50% complete improvement was reported. In cases with lower degrees of hearing loss, total improvement was 66.7%; also earlier time of treatment had better results.

Intratympanic injection of steroid is one effective modality in treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in cases with no response to standard systemic therapy. It can improve the hearing level of patients while its complication rate is low and as degree of hearing loss increases the results decrease earlier treatment have a better results.