OBJECTIVETo discuss the treatment of compound betamethasone injection in cases with the intractable low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss (LFSNHL).

METHODSCompound betamethasone injection 1 ml had been injected postaural only once to 23 cases with the unilateral LFSNHL, then observe the effect and follow-up at least 6 months. At the same time, the same therapy used to 4 cases with the binaural LFSNHL. The control group gave Merislon and Sibelium peroral for 2 weeks to 18 cases with the unilateral LFSNHL.

RESULTSIn unilateral LFSNHL group, twelve cases recovered, 7 cases had the hearing improved and 4 cases were ineffective in 23 cases. The efficiency was 82.6%. 2 cases (2 ears) showed hearing falling at low-frequency after 2-3 months. Others didn't recur after 6 months. 1 case showed low-grade skin atrophy at the local injection part. No other side-effects showed. In 4 binaural cases, 2 cases in effect and the others had no effect, and the former recurred after 1-2 months. In control group, 1 week after the end of therapy, 3 cases (3 ears) recovered, 1 case (1 ear) recovered 2 weeks later after the end of therapy, and the 4 cases didn't recur after 2 months. The other 14 cases were ineffective.

CONCLUSIONSCompound betamethasone injection postaural treated intractable LFSNHL effectively, but no obvious efficiency to cases with the binaural LFSNHL. May be these cases have some relationship with autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED).