Clinical features and prognostic factors of acute low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss:a retrospective study
WANG Yang
DENG Yuan
MU Niannian
DING Dan
LONG Dan
ZHANG Chunlin
Abstract：Objective To report clinical characteristics of acute low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss(ALHL)and factors influencing its clinical prognosis.Methods This retrospective study included 70 hospitalized patients(70 ears)diagnosed with unilateral ALHL at the Department of Otolaryngology,Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University,from October 2022 to March 2025,including 24 males and 46 females,with an age range of 11 to 59 years(mean age=34.0±10.6 years).Audiological examinations,electrocochleography(ECochG),and gadolinium-enhanced inner ear magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)were performed.All patients received the same treatment regimen and were followed up for at least 3 months to evaluate clinical efficacy.The influence of factors such as comorbid diseases,tinnitus and aural fullness,degree of hearing loss,ECochG,and gadolinium-enhanced inner ear MRI on prognosis was analyzed.Results For the 70 patients,the average pure-tone threshold was(39.7±9.1)dB HL over low frequencies(125～500 Hz).After treatment,the rate of complete recovery was 55.7%(39/70),the rate of partial recovery was 14.3%(10/70),the rate of no-change was 30%(21/70),yielding a total effectiveness rate of 70%(49/70).Univariate analysis revealed that presence of precipitating factors,number of episodes of hearing loss,ECochG,and gadolinium-enhanced inner ear MRI were correlated with prognosis.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that ECochG and gadolinium-enhanced inner ear MRI were correlated with prognosis.Combining both analyses,abnormal ECochG and positive gadolinium-enhanced inner ear MRI were associated with a poorer clinical prognosis.Conclusions ALHL predominantly affects middle-aged women with typically unilateral presentation.Besides hearing loss,aural fullness is a frequent symptom.The overall prognosis is favorable,although a subset of patients may experience fluctuating or recurrent hearing loss.Abnormal ECochG and positive inner ear MRI enhancement are significantly correlated with unfavorable clinical outcomes,suggesting their combined use may improve prognostic evaluation in ALHL.
Keywords：acute onsetlow-frequencysensorineural hearing lossclinical featuresprognosis
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( 221-226 )