Skip to main content
Log in

Epidemiological considerations in sudden hearing loss: a study of 183 cases

  • Published:
Archives of oto-rhino-laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

We have studied certain epidemiological problems not often encountered in the literature, involving patients with sudden hearing loss. We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study on 183 patients at the University of Padova and found that: (a) age at the onset of the hearing loss incurred is closely associated with the presence of concomitant diseases; (b) partial or total recovery of hearing is strongly predicated by the variables of age at onset and the interval between onset of hearing loss and the beginning of treatment given. We have also used polar-coordinate diagrams to show that cases of sudden hearing loss tend to be cyclic and are more prevalent in the central months of each season.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bosatra A, De Stefani GB (1962) The idiopathic sudden deafness: a clinical study. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) [Suppl] 169:1–62

    Google Scholar 

  2. Everitt BS (1977) The analysis of contingency tables. Chapman and Hall, London

    Google Scholar 

  3. Feldmann H (1981) Sudden hearing loss: a clinical survey. Adv Otorhinolaryngol 27:40–69

    Google Scholar 

  4. Graham JM, Ramsden HF, Moffat DA, Gibson WPR (1978) Sudden sensori-neural hearing loss: electrocochleographic findings in 70 patients. J Laryngol Otol 92:581–589

    Google Scholar 

  5. Gussen R (1976) Sudden deafness of vascular origin: a human temporal bone study. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 85:94–100

    Google Scholar 

  6. Jaffe B (1973) Clinical studies in sudden deafness. Adv Otorhinolaryngol 20:221–228

    Google Scholar 

  7. Jaffe B, Maassab HF (1967) Sudden deafness associated with adenovirus infection. N Engl J Med 276:1406–1409

    Google Scholar 

  8. Malik GH, Polsar IA, Ruffy ML (1974) Sudden idiopathic sensorineural deafness and its diagnosis. Bull NY Acad Med 50:907–916

    Google Scholar 

  9. Mattox DE, Simmons FB (1977) Natural history of sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 86:463–480

    Google Scholar 

  10. Morgenstein KM, Mance ED (1969) Temporal bone histopathology in sickle cell disease. Laryngoscope 79:2172–2180

    Google Scholar 

  11. Poncet E, Pain F, François M, Tran-Quanq-Loc, Biaggi S, Roulleau P (1983) Surdités brusques. Etude critique d'une série de 118 cas. Ann Otolaryngol (Paris) 100:475–484

    Google Scholar 

  12. Rowson KEK, Hinchcliffe R, Gamble DR (1975) A virological and epidemiological study of patients with acute hearing loss. Lancet I:471–473

    Google Scholar 

  13. Rubben R, Distenfeld A, Berg P (1969) Sudden sequential deafness as a presenting symptom of macroglobulinemia. JAMA 109:1364–1365

    Google Scholar 

  14. Russolo M, Poli P (1980) Acute idiopathic auditory failure: prognosis. Audiology 19:422–433

    Google Scholar 

  15. Schuknecht H (1962) Pathology of sudden deafness. Laryngoscope 72:1142–1157

    Google Scholar 

  16. Shaia FT, Sheehy JL (1976) Sudden sensorineural hearing impairment: a report of 1,220 cases. Laryngoscope 86:389–397

    Google Scholar 

  17. Simmons FB (1973) Sudden idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss: some observations. Laryngoscope 83:1221–1227

    Google Scholar 

  18. Stange G, Neveling R (1980) Hörsturz. In: Berendes J, Link R, Zöllner F (Hrsg) Thieme, Stuttgart, Bd 6/Ohr II:45.1–45.22

    Google Scholar 

  19. Van Dishoeck HAE, Biermann TA (1957) Sudden perceptive deafness and viral infection. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 66:963–980

    Google Scholar 

  20. Wright JLW, Saunders SH (1975) Sudden deafness following cardio-pulmonary bypass surgery. J Laryngol Otol 89:757–759

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Megighian, D., Bolzan, M., Barion, U. et al. Epidemiological considerations in sudden hearing loss: a study of 183 cases. Arch Otorhinolaryngol 243, 250–253 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00464440

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00464440

Key words

Navigation