Sensori-neural Hearing Loss and HBO2 Therapy

Sensori-neural Hearing Loss and HBO2 Therapy

Allen M. Dekelboum, MD 

Pressure: Vol 27 # 3, May/June 1998

One of the most frustrating conditions which appear to otolaryngologists all over the world is the sudden onset of unexplainable sensori-neural hearing loss 

(ISSNHL). Approximately 4000 cases are reported each year in the United States, with about 15,000worldwide. Most have no identifiable cause. The natural 

history is variable and the pathogenesis is multifactorial (1). Despite multiple approaches to therapy, the results of the treatment are not perfect and many 

patients are left with permanent disabled hearing losses. 

Over the past decade there have been numerous reports in the European and Japanese literature demonstrating the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy 

(HBO2) as an aid to the recovery of these patients. Treatment of various protocols has led to approximately 60-70% recovery of hearing in these patients. 

Because of these results some researchers have recommended that HBO2 be initiated in all patients presenting with ISSNHL, especially if they can be seen 

and treated within the first week after the onset of symptoms (2, 3, 4). 

Possible etiologies have been hypothesized, including thrombotic or embolic phenomena, hemorrhage, vasospasm, hypotension, hypertension, dysrhythmias, 

blood rheologic changes, viral and bacterial infections, immunologic and allergic disorders, metabolic disorders, stress and cochlear window ruptures. In 

most patients the etiology is unknown even after a thorough investigation. Treatment is empirical (5). Non-HBO2 treatment includes anti-inflammatory 

drugs, diuretics, anti-virals, vasodilators, volume expanders, defibrinogenators, calcium antagonists, acupuncture, iron replacement, vitamins and procaine 

(1). The long list of possible etiologies and treatments makes the evaluation of any form of therapy difficult at best. Each proponent of a therapeutic 

approach presents anecdotal evidence of efficacy. Even prospective studies are difficult to evaluate because each patient presents at a different stage of 

http://www.scuba-doc.com/hearhbot.html (1 of 3) [12/5/2003 3:17:46 PM]Sensori-neural hearing loss and HBOT

disease and biases are hard to eliminate (1). 

Mattox and Simmons (6) reported a thorough evaluation of all known forms of medical therapy for ISSNHL and concluded that 65% recover to functional 

hearing levels spontaneously and independent of any type of medical treatment. Most do so within 14 days and many within the first few days. Linssen and 

Schultz-Coulen (7) treated patients with naftidiofuryl, a vasodilator, and found that patients wit a low-frequency ISSNHL had 68.8% complete recovery. 

Fetterman et al (8) used steroids and vasodilators with 63.6% recovery. Schweinfurth et al (9) stated that nothing works better than spontaneous recovery. 

Indeed, many patients who recover spontaneously never seek medical care. Patients who have immediate access to medical care (medically related patients) 

and can be seen and treated in the first few days of onset of symptoms, recovering spontaneously, are then included in the reported good results of any 

therapy, thus making interpretation of any report suspect. 

If vasospasm is considered a possible etiology, HBO2 is a known cerebral vasoconstrictor and actually might be contraindicated in the treatment of ISSNHL. 

Mattox (10) noted that there is a theoretical concern that high oxygen concentrations might lead to the formation of potentially dangerous oxygen-free 

radicals in the cochlear and suggests the use of free-radical scavengers. 

Until such time that irrefutable scientific evidence supports HBO2 as effective in the treatment of ISSNHL, I would caution hyperbaric physicians, 

in evaluating results, to strongly consider the role of spontaneous recovery as the basis for their excellent statistics.

References: 

1. Hughes GB, et al. Sudden Sensori-neural Hearing loss. Otol Clin N A 1996; 29(3): 393-406. 

2. Monin P, et al. Sudden deafness and hyperbaric oxygenotherapy, our experience concerning 1100 cases. Bull Medsubhyp 1995; 5: 59-64. 

3. Dauman, R, et al. [Sudden deafness; a randomized comparative study of two administration modalities of hyperbaric oxygenotherapy combined with 

naftidiofuryl]. Rev Laryngol Otol Rhino (Bord) 1993; 114(1): 53-58. 

4. Li, W, Cramer, FS et al. Hyperbaric oxygenation as a treatment of chronic forms of inner ear hearing loss and tinnitus. In: Proceedings of the 11th Int. 

Congress on Hyperbaric medicine. Fuzhou, China. Flagstaff, AZ: Best Publishing, 1993: 141-145. 

5. Hoffman, G et al. Hyperbaric oxygenation as a treatment for sudden deafness and acute tinnitus. Ibid: 146-152. 

6. Mattox, DE, Simmons FB. Natural history of sudden sensori-neural hearing loss. Ann Otol. 1977; 88(4:463-480. 

7. Linssen OS, Schultz-Coulen HJ. Prognostic criteria in sudden deafness. HNO 1997; 45(1): 22-29. 

8. Fetterman BL et al. Sudden bilateral sensori-neural hearing loss. Laryngoscope 1996; 63 (11): 1347-1350. 

9. Schweinfurth JM et al. Current concepts in the diagnosis and treatment of sudden sensori-neural hearing loss. European Archives, Oto R Lar 1996; 253(3): 

111-121. 

10. Mattox DE, Lyles CA. Idiopathic sudden sensori-neural hearing loss. Amer J Otol 1989; 10(3): 242-247. 

Allen M. Dekelboum, MD is retired as Clinical Professor of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, at the University of California, San Francisco. A 

diving instructor and an expert in diving medicine, he is a consultant for Diving Medicine On

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