Clinical Practice Guideline: Sudden Hearing Loss
Abstract
Objective Sudden hearing loss (SHL) is a frightening symptom that often prompts an urgent or emergent visit to a physician. This guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of patients who present with SHL. The guideline primarily focuses on sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in adult patients (aged 18 and older). Prompt recognition and management of SSNHL may improve hearing recovery and patient quality of life (QOL). Sudden sensorineural hearing loss affects 5 to 20 per 100,000 population, with about 4000 new cases per year in the United States. This guideline is intended for all clinicians who diagnose or manage adult patients who present with SHL. Purpose The purpose of this guideline is to provide clinicians with evidence-based recommendations in evaluating patients with SHL, with particular emphasis on managing SSNHL. The panel recognized that patients enter the health care system with SHL as a nonspecific, primary complaint. Therefore, the initial recommendations of the guideline deal with efficiently distinguishing SSNHL from other causes of SHL at the time of presentation. By focusing on opportunities for quality improvement, the guideline should improve diagnostic accuracy, facilitate prompt intervention, decrease variations in management, reduce unnecessary tests and imaging procedures, and improve hearing and rehabilitative outcomes for affected patients. Results The panel made strong recommendations that c…
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In general, patients with ISSNHL are advised to start treatment with oral steroids within two weeks.
“In general, patients with ISSNHL are advised to start treatment with oral steroids within two weeks [1]”
From Prognostic Factors Associated with Recovery from Recurrent Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Retrospective Analysis and Systematic Review (2022) · cites this paper as [1]
Cites
Kernan, W. N., Ovbiagele, B., Black, H. R., Bravata, D. M., Chimowitz, M. I., Ezekowitz, M. D., Fang, M. C., Fisher, M., Furie, K. L., Heck, D. V., et al. (2014) · Stroke · doi:10.1161/str.0000000000000024 · Cited by 5,170 · see citing works
Classifying Recommendations for Clinical Practice Guidelines
Steering Committee on Quality Improvement and Management (2004) · Pediatrics · doi:10.1542/peds.2004-1260 · Cited by 322 · see citing works
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Clinical practice guideline: tinnitus
Tunkel, D. E., Bauer, C. A., Sun, G. H., Rosenfeld, R. M., Chandrasekhar, S. S., Cunningham, E. R., Archer, S. M., Blakley, B. W., Carter, J. M., Granieri, E. C., et al. (2014) · Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery · doi:10.1177/0194599814545325 · Cited by 769 · see citing works
Self-citationClinical Practice Guideline: Sudden Hearing Loss (Update)
Chandrasekhar, S. S., Tsai Do, B. S., Schwartz, S. R., Bontempo, L. J., Faucett, E. A., Finestone, S. A., Hollingsworth, D. B., Kelley, D. M., Kmucha, S. T., Moonis, G., et al. (2019) · Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery · doi:10.1177/0194599819859885 · Cited by 931 · see citing works
Self-citationRole of viral infection in sudden hearing loss
Chen, X., Fu, Y.-Y., & Zhang, T.-Y. (2019) · Journal of International Medical Research · doi:10.1177/0300060519847860 · Cited by 136 · see citing works
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Assessment and Management of Platinum-Related Ototoxicity in Children Treated for Cancer
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ENTAgents: AI Agents for Complex Knowledge Otolaryngology
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“Systemic corticosteroid therapy, frequently used for severe RTIs, could independently lower SSNHL risk through anti-inflammatory mechanisms [18,19].”
- Authors
- Stachler, R. J., Chandrasekhar, S. S., Archer, S. M., Rosenfeld, R. M., Schwartz, S. R., Barrs, D. M., Brown, S. R., Fife, T. D., Ford, P., Ganiats, T. G., Hollingsworth, D. B., Lewandowski, C. A., Montano, J. J., Saunders, J. E., Tucci, D. L., Valente, M., Warren, B. E., Yaremchuk, K. L., & Robertson, P. J.
- Affiliations
- Henry Ford Hospital (US)
- New York Otology New York New York USA
- Albert B. Chandler Hospital (US)
- State University of New York (US)
- Virginia Mason Medical Center (US)
- Mayo Clinic in Arizona (US)
- University of Arizona (US)
- Coronado California USA
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine University of California San Diego La Jolla California USA
- ENT Specialists of Northern Virginia Falls Church Virginia USA
- Henry Ford Health (US)
- Weill Cornell Medicine (US)
- Dartmouth–Hitchcock Medical Center (US)
- Duke University (US)
- Washington University in St. Louis (US)
- City University of New York (US)
- American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery (US)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2012-03
- Volume
- 146
- Issue
- S3
- Pages
- S1-35
- ISSN
- 0161-6439 (ISSN-L)
- 0194-5998
- 1097-6817
- OpenAlex
- W2032472217
- Cited by
- 971
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 29 · 2025: 47 · 2024: 45 · 2023: 56 · 2022: 64 · 2021: 90 · 2020: 95 · 2019: 106 · 2018: 101 · 2017: 63 · 2016: 108 · 2015: 63 · 2014: 49 · 2013: 35 · 2012: 18
- FWCI
- 26.59
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Otolaryngology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Vestibular and auditory disorders
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Hearing Loss and Rehabilitation
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Hearing, Cochlea, Tinnitus, Genetics
- Keywords
- sudden sensorineural hearing loss, idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss, conductive hearing loss, differential diagnosis, corticosteroid therapy, hearing recovery, hearing rehabilitation, hearing aids, auditory brainstem response, magnetic resonance imaging, audiometric follow-up, quality of life, patient education, adult patients
- MeSH terms
- Hearing Loss, Sudden, Glucocorticoids, Humans, Hyperbaric Oxygenation, Injections, Otolaryngology, Tympanic Membrane, Evidence-Based Medicine
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