[Intratympanic steroid intervention as initial therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a systematic review of reviews].

The aim of this overview is to evaluate the relevant systematic reviews and Meta-analysis that focus on intratympanic steroid intervention as initial therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss.The literature search was based on the published systematic reviews and Meta analysis. According to the include and exclude critera, the important data was extracted. Quality assessment was rigorously performed using the 11-item Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) and main outcome indicators of literature evidence quality were evaluated by Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE).Sixteen related systemic reviews and Meta-analysis (6 Chinese literatures and 10 English literatures) published during 2009-2016 were included; AMSTAR score was 4 to 9 points,14 studies was medium quality and 2 was high quality. However, the clinical evidence was controversial and there is no consensus regarding the efficacy of intratympanic steroid therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss.As an initial treatment, there is no sufficient high quality evidence to recommend the ITS therapy. There is a need for further systematic reviews that adhere to strict scientific methods.