Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss Corticosteroid Treatment, the Diagnostic Protocol and Outcome

.................................................................................................................. 7 LIST OF ORIGINAL PAPERS................................................................................... 9 ABBREVIATIONS..................................................................................................... 10 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................... 11 BACKGROUND ......................................................................................................... 13 AIMS ............................................................................................................................ 19 METHODS .................................................................................................................. 21 STATISTICAL METHODS ...................................................................................... 25 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS............................................................................... 27 MATERIAL................................................................................................................. 29 RESULTS .................................................................................................................... 33 DISCUSSION .............................................................................................................. 45 Radiological and laboratory examination.......................................................... 45 Treatment ........................................................................................................... 47 Prognostic factors .............................................................................................. 48 Suggestion for further research.......................................................................... 50 CONCLUSIONS ......................................................................................................... 51 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .......................................................................................... 53 SVENSK SAMMANFATTNING.............................................................................. 55 APPENDIX.................................................................................................................. 67 REFERENCES............................................................................................................ 71