The effect of vestibular findings on recovery of hearing loss i̇n patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Aim: To investigate the effect of the presence of vestibular complaints, type and severity of hearing loss on the prognosis of in patients treated for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Methods: 130 patients who applied to Mersin University Medical Faculty Hospital Otorhinolaryngology Department due to SSNHL between March 2019 and April 2022 were analyzed. Forty of these patients who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups as those who had vestibular complaints (Group A) and those who did not (Group B). Patients were classified according to their hearing level. During diagnosis, patients were evaluated with audiometry, videonystagmography and vHIT. During the videonystagmographic evaluation, caloric testing was performed. One month after the end of systemic corticosteroid treatment, audiometric evaluation was repeated. Results: Group A consisted of 29 patients with vestibular complaints and Group B consisted of 11 patients. While a significant improvement was observed in the hearing grades and speech discrimination scores of the groups before and after the treatment, no significant difference was observed in the hearing configuration, tinnitus and ear fulness. When the hearing levels of the groups were examined according to the Modified Siegel criteria, it was observed that the patients with mild hearing loss had complete recovery. In patients SSHL with vertigo the caloric response was weaker. In addition, nystagmus is toward the healthy side was detected in the patients with SSNHL. When the results of the vHIT test were compared according to the hearing levels between the groups, no significant findings were found. Semicircular cannel gains were weaker on the SSNHL side. Conclusion: As the degree of hearing loss increases in patients with sudden hearing loss, the vertigo complaints and findings incidence is increasing. Patients exhibiting this clinical condition had a lower response to treatment. Key words: sudden hearing loss, caloric test, vertigo, vestibular function test, vHIT