Vertigo as a prognostic factor in sudden hearing loss.

A group of 87 patients suffering from unilateral sudden hearing loss were investigated. They were divided into two groups with and without vertigo, and were evaluated according to the severity of initial hearing loss and shape of tonal audiogram. Twenty-five percent of the patients had accompanying vertigo. Vertigo occurred more often in patients with severe hearing loss in high tone frequencies. Hearing recovery of high tone frequencies was poorer in the patients with vertigo than in those without it, although the initial hearing loss was the same.