[The emergency in the management of sudden hearing loss; still of present interest? A study of 109 cases of sudden deafness].

UNLABELLED

The emergency in the treatment of sudden hearing loss. A controversial dogma?

OBJECTIVE

Does the delay in instigation of treatment in cases of sudden hearing loss affect the outcome?

MATERIAL AND METHOD

109 patients were included in this study. Sudden hearing loss is a much discussed subject in the literature. The authors agree on the concept of therapeutic emergency. This retrospective study aims to analyze the value of precocity in starting treatment on hearing improvement.

RESULTS

The therapeutic time delay does not appear to be a significant factor and sheds doubt on the rule of therapeutic emergency.

CONCLUSION

The authors remain nevertheless prudent on these conclusions. A larger number of cases should be studied. The question of a national versus placebo study is also laid.