OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical materials of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in different ages of patients, and explore their clinical characteristics and prognosis.

METHODSA retrospective review was conducted by the clinical symptoms, predisposing factors and prognosis in SSNHL patients with different ages in the past two years (from 2008 to 2010). All patients were divided into three groups according to age, including Group 1 (0-18 years old), Group 2 (19-59 years old), and Group 3 (over 60 years old).

RESULTSPart of patients (28.1%) had a clear history of virus infection in Group 1. Some patients (18.7%) had obvious history of emotional fluctuations or fatigue before the onset of SSNHL. Three groups of patients with "aural fullness" symptom accounted for 3.1%, 41.3% and 29.4% respectively. The proportions of patients with profound hearing loss in three groups were 62.5%, 40.0% and 33.3% respectively. Most patients improved hearing level during systemic internal medicine treatment. However, many patients (68.8%) in Group 1 showed poor therapeutic effect.

CONCLUSIONSSSNHL in different age stages has different clinical features. We can improve the personalized treatment program to this disease through the classification and grading treatment.