Investigation of Stress Levels before the Onset of Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Effect of combining batroxobin with acupuncture treatment on hearing recovery in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss

BACKGROUND

The effect of batroxobin on hearing recovery in patients with Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL) is still controversial, and acupuncture shows auxiliary benefits for SSNHL.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effectiveness of combining acupuncture with batroxobin therapy for patients with SSNHL.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

One hundred and fifty-six patients with SSNHL were retrospectively enrolled in this study, and categorized into the control group (only batroxobin treatment) and observation group (batroxobin and acupuncture treatment). Pure Tone Audiograms (PTA) threshold and clinical outcomes of hearing recovery were compared. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between hearing recovery and potential risk factors.

RESULTS

Compared to the control group, the observation group had a higher overall effective rate (p = 0.006) and improvement in PTA threshold (p = 0.007). Among SSNHL patients with high-frequency and flat-type hearing loss, observation group demonstrated superior hearing recovery post-treatment compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Additionally, hearing recovery in patient with SSNHL were associated with SSNHL types, disease duration, neutrophil count and acupuncture (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE

Combining batroxobin and acupuncture treatments enhences the improvement of hearing recovery in SSNHL patients compared to only batroxobin treatments, especially high-frequency and flat-type hearing loss.

Hearing and Diet (Narrative Review)

It seems that food factors and the type of nutrition have an effect on the function of the auditory system. Hearing is one of the most important senses for social communication and high cognitive behaviors. Sensorineural hearing loss leaves adverse and permanent consequences in all aspects of personal and social life of affected patients. Hence, this narrative review study was designed to determine the relationship between sensorineural hearing loss and type of diet. Based on the inclusion criteria, the full text of 62 articles published between 2005 and 2023 were extracted from Scopus, Medline [PubMed], Web of Science, and Google Scholar websites and constituted the sources of this research. The results of the studies showed that by limiting the consumption of foods rich in cholesterol, sugar, carbohydrates, and protein, hearing is protected against the factors that cause sensorineural hearing loss. Also, increasing the consumption of vegetables, fruits, omega-3, antioxidants in the form of vitamins A, C, E reduce hearing susceptibility due to noise exposure, presbycusis, ototoxic agents, and etc. Healthy diet includes eating all the nutrients the body needs in a balanced way. Healthy lifestyle factors including continuous physical activity, good sleep quality, quitting smoking, stay away from stressful factors or relaxation, and avoiding exposure to environmental noise. By following healthy eating and lifestyle patterns, the conditions for hearing, physical and mental health are provided.

Is repetitive systemic corticosteroid therapy effective for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss? a retrospective study

Introduction

Some idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL) cases experience repetitive systemic corticosteroid treatment, but studies focusing on repetitive systemic corticosteroid administration have not been reported. Thus, we investigated the clinical characteristics and usefulness of repetitive systemic corticosteroid treatment in ISSHL cases.

Methods

We reviewed the medical records of 103 patients who received corticosteroids only in our hospital (single-treatment group), and 46 patients who presented at our hospital after receiving corticosteroids in a nearby clinic and were subsequently treated with corticosteroids again in our hospital (repetitive-treatment group). Clinical backgrounds, hearing thresholds, and hearing prognosis were assessed.

Results

The final hearing outcomes were not different between the two groups. Further, in the repetitive-treatment group, statistical differences were found between the good and poor prognosis groups in the number of days to start corticosteroid administration (p = 0.03), the dose of corticosteroid (p = 0.02), and the duration of corticosteroid administration (p = 0.02) at the previous facility. Multivariate analysis revealed a significant difference in the dose of corticosteroids administered by the previous clinic (p = 0.004).

Conclusion

The repetitive systemic corticosteroid administration might play a supplementary role in hearing improvement, and initial sufficient corticosteroid administration would lead to good hearing outcomes in an early phase of ISSHL.

Effectiveness of electroacupuncture for the treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss: A retrospective study

This retrospective study investigated the use of electroacupuncture (EA) for the treatment of patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL).Between May 2016 and April 2020, 140 patients with SSNHL were retrospectively analyzed. They were allocated to a treatment group (n = 70, received EA) and a control group (n = 70, received acupuncture). They received EA or acupuncture for a total of 3 months. The outcomes included average hearing threshold (AHT), tinnitus (as assessed by tinnitus handicap inventory [THI]), dizziness (as measured by dizziness handicap inventory [DHI]), and adverse events (AEs).After treatment, patients in both groups exerted more reduction in HT (P < .01), THI (P < .01), and DHI (P < .01), than those before the treatment. Furthermore, patients in the treatment group showed more relief in HT (P < .01), THI (P < .01), and DHI (P < .01), than those of patients in the control group. When it comes to AEs, both modalities had similar safety profile.The findings of this retrospective study indicated that the effectiveness of EA is superior to acupuncture in treating SSNHL. Future high quality studies are needed to warrant the present findings.

Hearing Problems Among the Members of the Defence Forces in Relation to Personal and Occupational Risk Factors

INTRODUCTION

The Defence Forces' members are exposed to high-level noise that increases their risk of hearing loss (HL). Besides military noise, the other risk factors include age and gender, ototoxic chemicals, vibration, and chronic stress. The current study was designed to study the effects of personal, work conditions-related risk factors, and other health-related traits on the presence of hearing problems.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study among active military service members was carried out. Altogether, 807 respondents completed a questionnaire about their health and personal and work-related risk factors in indoor and outdoor environments. The statistical analysis was performed using statistical package of social sciences (descriptive statistics) and R (correlation and regression analysis) software.

RESULTS

Almost half of the active service members reported HL during their service period. The most important risk factors predicting HL in the military appeared to be age, gender, and service duration. Also, working in a noisy environment with exposure to technological, vehicle, and impulse noise shows a statistically significant effect on hearing health. Moreover, we could identify the effect of stress on tinnitus and HL during the service period. Most importantly, active service members not using hearing protectors, tend to have more tinnitus than those who use it.

CONCLUSIONS

The members of the Defence Forces experience noise from various sources, most of it resulting from outdoor activities. Personal and work conditions-related risk factors as well as stress increase the risk of hearing problems.

Correlation between serum lipid and prognosis of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

To investigate the correlation between blood lipids and the prognosis of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL).

METHODS

We included 232 patients with ISSNHL at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shanghai University from June 2015 to March 2017 using a prospective cohort study design. We collected information including age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, mellitus, vertigo, as well as the levels of blood total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoproteins (LDL-C). We also recorded the ratio between the levels of low-density lipoproteins and the levels of high-density lipoproteins (LDL-C/HDL-C ratio). Correlations between the prognosis of ISSNHL and TC, TG, LDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio were analyzed by univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

The clinical effectiveness rate of patients with TC ranging from 5.2 to 6.2 mmol/L was significantly higher than that of patients with TC <5.2 mmol/L (P<0.001). No notable difference was found between patients with TC <5.2 mmol/L and patients with TC ≥6.2 mmol/L. The clinical effectiveness rate of patients in TG ranging from 1.7 mmol/L to 2.3 mmol/L was markedly higher than those in TG <1.7 mmol/L (P<0.001). No significant difference was found between patients with TG ranging from 2.3 to 5.6 mmol/L, TG ≥5.6 mmol/L, and TG <1.7 mmol/L. The clinical effectiveness rate of patients in LDL-C/HDL-C <1.5 was considerably higher than those in LDL-C/HDL-C ranging from 1.5 to 2.5, 2.5 to 3.5, and ≥3.5 (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicated that TC, TG, and the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio are strongly associated with the prognosis of ISSNHL. These three indices could be recommended as independent markers to predict outcomes.

Long-term administration of vitamin B12 and adenosine triphosphate for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a retrospective study

Background

In idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL), the relationship between the administration duration of vitamin B12 (vit B12) with adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and their therapeutic effect is not fully understood.

Objective

To investigate the therapeutic effect of long-term 16 (≥weeks) administration of vit B12 with ATP on the prognosis of ISSNHL patients and compare it with those of short-term (<8 weeks) and middle-term (≥8 weeks, <16 weeks) administration.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 117 patients with ISSNHL treated between 2015 and 2018.

Results

The overall recovery rate was 32.5%. Initial higher hearing threshold and initial higher grade of hearing loss (HL) were associated with a poor prognosis. However, the administration duration of vit B12 and ATP did not influence the overall hearing improvement. With regard to the time course of hearing recovery, there was no significant difference in hearing recovery among the long-, middle-, and short-term administration groups until 16 weeks after treatment. However, at 16–24 weeks after initial treatment, the short-term administration group exhibited significantly lower hearing recovery than did the long-term administration groups.

Conclusions

The administration duration of vit B12 and ATP did not influence the overall hearing prognosis in ISSNHL, but long-term administration of vit B12 and ATP helped prevent the progression of HL after ISSNHL. Our results suggest that long-term administration of vit B12 and ATP is not necessarily required to treat ISSNHL patients, except for slowly progressing HL in the affected ears.

Should air travel be avoided shortly after an idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss?

Introduction: The effect of air travel on the recovery rate after idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) has not been established. The advice to avoid flights is essentially based upon conjecture.Objectives: To analyze the recovery rate of patients who traveled by air shortly after they were treated for ISSNHL.Materials and methods: The hospital records of 115 newly diagnosed adult patients with unilateral ISSNHL were retrospectively collected. Included were patients who traveled by air within 90 days since the ISSNHL occurrence. The treatment protocol included oral prednisone and intratympanic dexamethasone injection when indicated. Audiograms performed upon presentation and 90 days later were compared.Results: Twelve patients were included (median age 45.5 years). The median treatment delay was 3 days. The average time from the ISSNHL to air-travel was 37 days, and the average air-travel distance was 13,362 km. The degree of HL was moderate, moderately severe, and severe (4 patients each). Seven patients (58%) underwent full recovery. No patients experienced further deterioration of their audiometric results after air-travel.Conclusions: This study does not support the avoidance of air-travel after ISSNHL.Significance: This study is the first to investigate the effect of air-travel on ISSNHL recovery rates, a clinical question that rises commonly.

[The efficacy of intratympanic or combined steroids as the salvage treatment for moderate-to-severe to profound sudden sensorineural hearing loss]

Objective:The objective is to investigate and compare the efficacy of intratympanic methylprednisolone or combination therapy as the salvage treatment for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss （ISSNHL）. Method:Ninety patients with moderate-to-severe to profound SSNHL which were unresponsive to the conventional treatment were recruited. Among these 90 patients, 45 patients underwent intratympanic methylprednisolone therapy （IMT） alone and 45 patients underwent systemic dexamethasone+IMT（systemic steroids+IMT）. IMT was performed every other day, with a total of four times. The pure-tone audiogram （PTA） before and after IMT or systemic steroids+IMT was conducted. And for those with tinnitus or anxiety, tinnitus handicap inventory（THI）, visual analog scale （VAS） as well as Hamilton anxiety rating scale （HAMA） were performed before and after the treatment. Result:The success rate was 31.1% with IMT and 51.1% with systemic steroids+IMT, and the difference was not significant between the two groups. The efficacy of patients with less than 30 days of onset was better than those with more than 30 days, and the difference was not significant, either. Both groups showed significant improvement in the scores of THI, VAS, and HAMA, but no significant difference was found between the two groups. Conclusion:Intratympanic methylprednisolone is recommended as the salvage treatment for patients with moderate-to-severe to profound SSNHL which showed little efficacy after the conventional treatment. Prompt medication improves the therapeutic efficacy.