Effect of intratympanic steroid administration on sensorineural hearing loss associated with acute otitis media

Abstract

AbstractObjective:To evaluate a small cohort of patients who presented with symptoms and signs consistent with acute infective sensorineural hearing loss who were treated with intratympanic steroids.Method:Seven patients received a 7-day course of oral antibiotics and oral prednisolone followed by 3 intratympanic injections of methylprednisolone and 1 week of topical dexamethasone drops.Results:Hearing improved in 57 per cent of patients (four out of seven). The mean improvement in this group was 24 dB (range, 10–52 dB). The magnitude of the sensorineural hearing loss at presentation was less in those who responded to intratympanic steroid therapy than in non-responders (mean pure tone average of 30 dB versus 65 dB pre-intratympanic steroids, and 14 dB versus 83 dB post-intratympanic steroids, respectively).Conclusion:The results of our study suggest that intratympanic steroids provide a valuable contribution to the treatment of acute infective sensorineural hearing loss and may provide additional benefit by virtue of a concentrated local steroid effect in patients who do not respond to antibiotics.