INTRODUCTION: This study aims to evaluate hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy as a salvage treatment option for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and analyze factors influencing treatment outcomes.
METHODS: Charts of 27 patients (20 males, 7 females; mean age 50.8 years; range, 30 to 74 years) who received HBO therapy as salvage treatment were retrospectively evaluated between January 2007 and December 2017. Patients’ demographics, time between onset of SSNHL to the initiation of steroid and HBO treatments, audiogram curves, tinnitus, vestibular symptoms, and pure tone audiometry results before and after steroid and HBO therapies were evaluated. Siegle’s criteria were used to evaluate treatment outcomes.
RESULTS: According to Siegle’s criteria, while seven patients had slight improvement, partial improvement was seen in two patients. With HBO therapy, a statistically significant improvement was seen at 250, 500, and 8000 Hz frequencies. Diabetes mellitus and patients’ age were related with treatment outcomes.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be beneficial as a salvage treatment option in some patients. Better results may be expected particularly in young and non-diabetic patients.