Delayed restoration of maximum speech discrimination scores in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

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Delayed restoration of maximum speech discrimination scores in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Auris Nasus Larynx. 2016 Oct;43(5):495-500

Authors: Noguchi Y, Takahashi M, Ito T, Fujikawa T, Kawashima Y, Kitamura K

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess possible delayed recovery of the maximum speech discrimination score (SDS) when the audiometric threshold ceases to change.
METHODS: We retrospectively examined 20 patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) (gender: 9 males and 11 females, age: 24-71 years). The findings of pure-tone average (PTA), maximum SDS, auditory brainstem responses (ABRs), and tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) were compared among the three periods of 1-3 months, 6-8 months, and 11-13 months after ISSNHL onset.
RESULTS: No significant differences were noted in PTA, whereas an increase of greater than or equal to 10% in maximum SDS was recognized in 9 patients (45%) from the period of 1-3 months to the period of 11-13 months. Four of the 9 patients showed 20% or more recovery of maximum SDS. No significant differences were observed in the interpeak latency difference between waves I and V and the interaural latency difference of wave V in ABRs, whereas an improvement in the THI grade was recognized in 11 patients (55%) from the period of 1-3 months to the period of 11-13 months.
CONCLUSION: The present study suggested the incidence of maximum SDS restoration over 1 year after ISSNHL onset. These findings may be because of the effects of auditory plasticity via the central auditory pathway.

PMID: 26739945 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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