The importance of the first three days and other diagnostic indicators in sudden hearing loss.

OBJECTIVES This study aims to compare different therapy methods used for sudden sensorineural hearing losses, to determine the prognostic factors and particularly to investigate the importance of starting the therapy within the first three days of the prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between January 1995 and December 2008, the files of 213 patients who were treated in our clinic were reviewed. A total of 155 patients who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. The study groups were classified according to the prognostic and audiometric factors. RESULTS With regard to the effectiveness of treatment options, post-treatment audiometric improvement was significantly better in the patients treated with carbogen in addition to the medical therapy compared to the other groups (p=0.018). In terms of the patient characteristics at the time of admission, having vertigo, presence of a descending type audiogram curve and severe hearing loss affected the success of treatment negatively, while mild hearing loss and presence of an ascending type audiogram curve had a positive effect. The recovery rate was higher in patients who were admitted within the first three days (p=0.005). CONCLUSION It was found that starting the therapy within the first three days and adding the carbogen to the conventional medical treatment may improve the outcome of the treatment.