[Clinical comparison of idiopathic sudden deafness in children and the elderly].

OBJECTIVE

This retrospective study compared clinical manifestations of idiopathic sudden hearing loss between children and the elderly.

METHOD: 44 pediatric patients and 76 elderly patients diagnosed with idiopathic sudden deafness in our clinic from December 2009 to September 2014 were enrolled. Different clinical parameters were compared.

RESULT: The incidence of initially profound hearing loss was highest and mild hearing loss was lowest in both groups (P < 0.05). There were no differences in the proportion with initially mild, moderate, severe, and profound hearing loss between both groups (P > 0.05). The number of patients was the most in initially profound type of audiogram pattern and the fewest in ascending type in both groups (P < 0.05). Hearing recovery rates in children (27/44, 61.4%) was higher than that in elderly patients (32/76, 42.1%) (P < 0.05). There were no differences in hearing recovery rates of the patients with initially level of hearing loss in both groups (P > 0.05). The highest recovery rate in children was in those with descending type and the lowest was in those with profound type (P < 0.05). There were no differences in hearing recovery rates in elderly patients with initially different types of audiogram pattern (P > 0.05). Hearing recovery rates of descending type in children were higher than that in elderly patients. Presence of tinnitus in pediatric patients was not relavent to the outcome (P > 0.05). Presence of tinnitus in elderly patients was associated with favorable outcomes. (P < 0.05). Presence of dizziness in pediatric patients was not relavent to the outcome (P > 0.05). Presence of dizziness in elderly patients was associated with poor outcomes (P < 0.05). Presence of initially different degrees of opposite side hearing loss in elderly patients was not relavent to the outcome (P > 0.05). Presence of chronic diseases in elderly patients was not associated with the outcome (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The clinical manifestion of idiopathic sudden deafness is respective in Children and in elderly patients.