Comparative Evaluation of Injection Dexamethasone and Oral Glycerol Versus Injection Dexamethasone Alone in the Treatment of Sudden Onset Sensorineural Deafness.

OBJECTIVES

Our study was aimed at finding a definitive treatment protocol for the management of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and to study the prognostic factors affecting it.

METHODS

This randomized clinical study was conducted on a total of 150 patients. All patients older than 10 years and presenting within 15 days of experiencing the symptom of SSNHL and with no known etiology were included. Patients were divided into 2 groups. In group I patients, we administered systemic steroids (injection dexamethasone 3 days, followed by oral deflazacort for 6 days) with liquid glycerol; and in group II, we administered systemic steroids alone (injection dexamethasone 3 days, followed by oral deflazacort for 6 days). The total time for which the treatment was instituted was 9 days and patients were assessed on the basis of their pure tone audiogram and speech discrimination score done at days 0, 3, 7, 21, and 42.

RESULTS

There were 77 males and 73 females. Vertigo (P value < .00) and diabetes mellitus (P value < .001) had a negative prognostic influence on the recovery rate in both the groups. The comparison revealed that group I (DG) in which patients received injection dexamethasone with oral glycerol had a higher recovery rate of 86.7% as compared to group II (D) patients, in which patients received injection dexamethasone alone (recovery rate = 48%; P = .000 highly significant).

CONCLUSIONS

Vertigo and diabetes mellitus play a negative role in the recovery of SSNHL. The novel treatment protocol we used in group I patients that is liquid glycerol and systemic steroids was significantly better and effective in treating SSNHL as compared to the group II treatment protocol of systemic steroids alone. Hence, we concluded that SSNHL is treatable that too with a good recovery rate.