Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy as an effective approach to the treatment of patients with severe idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

The potential etiology of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is cochlear ischemia, therefore, hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is a promising treatment, particularly in patients with severe hearing loss (≥70 dB). To evaluate the efficacy of HBO therapy. The medical records of patients diagnosed with ISSNHL were retrospectively reviewed (≥70 dB). Patients received HBO therapy 14 times in addition to systemic and intratympanic steroid therapy (HBO group), or systemic and intratympanic steroid therapy only (control group). Data from a total of 82 patients (83 ears) were included in the analysis; 37 (38 ears) in the HBO group and 45 (45 ears) in the control group. After 2 weeks' treatment, hearing was significantly improved in the HBO group versus controls (weighted four-frequency average 28.1 ± 26.9 dB versus 14.8 ± 13.5 dB, respectively;  < .05), particularly in the low frequency groups (0.5 kHz, 1 kHz, 2 kHz;  < .05). These data demonstrate that HBO therapy is an effective initial treatment option for patients with ISSNHL suffering from severe hearing loss.