Clinical reclassification of profound sudden deafness loss based on severity of hearing loss
MA Suwei
WU Xiaonan
ZHAO Xiaohui
SHAN Changshuo
CHEN Guohui
GAO Yun
WANG Dayong
WANG Qiuju
Abstract：Objective To define subclasses of sudden sensorineural hearing loss based on the degree of hearing loss,and report their clinical characteristics and prognosis.Methods A total of 928 patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss admitted to the Department of Otolaryngology,Head and Neck Surgery,Sixth Medical Center of the People's Liberation Army General Hospital for treatment were included and,based on their pure tone thresholda before treatment,divided into Group 1(80 to＜95 dB HL),Group 2(95 to＜110 dB HL),and Group 3(≥110 dB HL).Non parametric rank test,stratified chi square,multiple logistic regression,and trend test were used to compare the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes among the three groups.Results(1)Significant differences were found in time from onset to treatment(P=0.002),incidence of vertigo(P＜0.001),coexisting diabetes(P=0.012),age(P=0.014),and affected side(P=0.019),but not in gender(P=0.469),tinnitus(P=0.099),ear fullness(P=0.098),hypertension(P=0.906),or triggering factors(P=0.102).(2)There were differences in the overall treatment effectiveness among the three groups(P＜0.001),specifically for those who received treatment within 14 days(P＜0.001)and those during 14 to 40 days(P=0.041)of onset,but not for those who received treatment between 40～180 days(P=0.110)of onset.Differences in hearing outcomes among the three groups were present for low(P=0.003),mid(P=0.002)and high(P=0.013)frequencies.(3)In 294 patients with complete speech recognition data,the rate of speech recognition improvement was 36.7%for those initiating treatment within 30 days,and 39.1%for those within 180 days(P＜0.001).(4)Four factors were found associated with prognosis,namely disease duration(OR=0.95),age(OR=0.99),hearing loss exceeding 110 dB HL(OR=0.67,compared to 80～95 dB HL),and gender(OR=1.40,female vs male).Conclusions Subclasses of patients with profound sudden deafness show different clinical characteristics,and hearing and speech recognition outcomes associated with the degree of hearing loss.Such subtyping of sudden deafness patients can help improve the effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment.
Keywords：sudden sensorineural hearing losstotal deafness typereclassificationclinical characteristicsprognosis
Publication Date：2026-03-20
Online Publishing Date：2026-03-19(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：6( 210-215 )