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The hearing outcome was evaluated in 103 patients presenting with sudden hearing loss, 55% with the additional complaint of tinnitus, and 33% with vertigo or unsteadiness.
Thirty-three patients were treated with dextran, histamine, Hypaque, carbogen, diuretics, steroids, and vasodilators; 70 patients received an incomplete protocol (randomly omitting dextran, vasodilator, or steroid); both treatment groups showed similar early hearing improvements, and even 65% of those patients who did not respond initially showed some late hearing improvement. Overall hearing results following either protocol gave results similar to those seen with spontaneous recovery. The only therapy shown to have a definite effect on hearing outcome was the diuretic, which affected outcome adversely.
Better prognosis was seen with an up-sloping hearing loss without unsteadiness or vertigo, regardless of therapy.