Early initiation within 12.5 days of hearing loss onset tied to better hearing outcomes
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, July 14, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) used in conjunction with corticosteroids aids outcomes for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), according to a study published online June 29 in Clinical Otolaryngology.
Bang-Yan Zhang, M.D., from the Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital in New Taipei City, Taiwan, and colleagues evaluated the efficacy of HBOT as an adjunct to corticosteroids in the treatment of SSNHL. The analysis included 128 patients diagnosed with unilateral SSNHL who received corticosteroids and HBOT. Hearing gains were evaluated using audiometric testing both before and after treatment.
The researchers found that 72.7 percent of patients experienced significant hearing improvement. Early initiation of HBOT within 12.5 days of onset was associated with better hearing outcomes. Results of multivariate analysis and sensitivity testing confirmed that HBOT timing was the most robust predictor of hearing gain, independent of baseline hearing loss severity.
“This study highlights the importance of early HBOT combined with corticosteroids in treating SSNHL. Initiating HBOT within 12.5 days significantly improves hearing outcomes,” the authors write. “These findings support HBOT as a valuable adjunctive treatment and underscore the need for standardized treatment protocols.”
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