Factors Prognostic of Season-Associated Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Retrospective Observational Study

J Audiol Otol. 2017 Apr;21(1):44-48. doi: 10.7874/jao.2017.21.1.44. Epub 2017 Mar 30.

Abstract

Background and objectives: This study examined whether the prognosis of sudden deafness was dependent on the time of onset and evaluated the factors affecting prognosis during each period.

Subjects and methods: Patients who developed sudden hearing loss from January 2005 to December 2015 were evaluated retrospectively. Meteorological data were obtained from the official website of the Korea Meteorological Administration. Factors prognostic of hearing recovery rate were analyzed.

Results: The hearing recovery rate of the 318 patients who developed sudden deafness did not differ significantly by month. Mean temperature and daily temperature range at onset of sudden deafness were not associated with recovery rate.

Conclusions: The recovery rate in patients with sudden deafness did not differ markedly by season.

Keywords: Prognostic factor; Season; Sudden sensorineural hearing loss.