Corticosteroids Therapy for the Tinnitus Associated with Sudden Hearing Loss

Tinnitus is a complex disorder of hearing and, in its most common form, is presented as a phantom auditory sensation which is not associated with an external sound stimulus. The sudden hearing loss is often characterized by an abrupt idiopathic onset. In up to 80% of these patients tinnitus is present and becomes the main complaint. In this research corticosteroids are the used therapy for sudden hearing loss. Aim of study: This study characterized the tinnitus evolution in patients with sudden hearing loss and its therapy with corticosteroids. Method: The study was done using analytical retrospective in 11 patients that were monitored after sudden hearing loss with tinnitus and underwent, before and after sudden hearing loss treated with oral and intratympanic corticotherapy: hearing evaluation, application of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and Visual Analogue Scale. Results: Six patients showed improvement over the hearing and six showed improvement in their tinnitus, which was demonstrated by degrees of severity. Conclusion: Patients with sudden hearing loss and tinnitus who underwent intratympanic and/or oral corticosteroids showed significant reduction of tinnitus.