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Study finds that ‘time is of the essence’ with chance of returning to full hearing helped if steroids taken within seven days
People who experience sudden hearing loss should be treated with steroids within seven days, according to the largest study of its kind.
Every year, thousands of people in the UK experience sudden hearing loss, with most never recovering full hearing.
The condition can affect one or both ears and can happen instantly or sometimes over the course of a few weeks.
Causes of sudden hearing loss can include ear infections, a physical injury, side effects of medication, non-cancerous tumour, build-up of wax, and Ménière’s disease, which affects balance and hearing. Some studies have also linked a Covid-19 infection to sudden hearing loss.
In the new research, a team from University College London Hospital (UCLH) identified factors that can lead to full hearing recovery, with the strongest predictor being treatment with steroids within a week of the condition occurring.
The study included work with 240 junior doctors at 76 hospitals across England and Wales. Researchers found that patients who received steroids within a week of sudden hearing loss were five times more likely to fully recover their hearing compared to those who were not given steroids.
The study published in the journal JAMA Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery also found that about 60 per cent of people were given treatment within seven days of experiencing hearing loss.
As part of the study, the team developed a recovery calculator called Seashel, which medics can use freely online to estimate the chance of patients having full hearing recovery.
At the moment, it remains unclear why some people recover their hearing and others do not, and there is uncertainty over how best to manage those patients.
Nish Mehta, a UCLH ear, nose and throat surgeon who led the research, said: “Time is of the essence when it comes to restoring hearing after sudden hearing loss.
“It is important that patients who experience a sudden drop in their hearing seek urgent medical attention.
“It is also important that the medical teams who first see these patients either arrange appropriate urgent specialist review or consider steroid treatment if the specialist review is unlikely to occur within the appropriate timeframe.”
Franki Oliver, audiology manager at the hearing loss charity RNID, said: “This research confirms that if you suddenly lose your hearing – either in one or both of your ears – getting treatment quickly is key.
“Sudden hearing loss is not always serious but it could be a medical emergency. Getting treatment soon increases your chance of recovering your hearing.
“You should contact your GP or NHS 111 in the first instance, and if you can’t do this you should go to A&E.”
According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, most cases of sudden hearing loss are in one ear, those in their 40s and 50s most affected.
Around five to 20 people per 100,000 per year in developed countries are thought to be affected.