Migraine Features in Patients With Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence of migraine features among patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and evaluate potential clinical associations.

STUDY

DESIGN

Retrospective survey-based study.

SETTING

Single institution tertiary care center.

METHODS

168 adult patients with SSNHL were recruited. Migraine diagnosis was determined using International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-3) criteria. Patient demographics, migraine-related features, and SSNHL characteristics were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

Of 168 SSNHL patients, 77 (46%) met full ICHD-3 migraine criteria, which is higher than the general population. An additional 23% met the majority of the migraine criteria. Multivariate analysis revealed that aural fullness preceding hearing loss (P < .001), concordant laterality of hearing loss and headache (P < .001), hyperacusis (P = .006), otalgia (P = .01), and motion sickness (P = .03) were independently associated with migraine. Interestingly, 89% of patients with migraine headache and SSNHL had their SSNHL on the same side as their headaches.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings reveal a high prevalence of migraine headache among patients with SSNHL. Clinical features, including aural fullness and concordant laterality (dominant headaches on the same side as SSNHL), were predictive of migraine in SSNHL patients. These findings support the hypothesis that migraine and SSNHL may share overlapping vascular and neurogenic mechanisms, highlighting the importance of identifying migraine features in SSNHL to optimize management and explore potential therapeutic strategies.