Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of intratympanic injection of ganglioside in patients with refractory sudden deafness. Methods:A total of 120 patients with sudden deafness, aged 18-65 years, whose onset was within 11-42 days, failed to respond to conventional treatment, and had an average hearing threshold（500-4 000 Hz）>60 dB were selected. They were prospectively and randomly divided into a control group of 61 cases and an experimental group of 59 cases. The control group was treated according to the recommended protocol of the Chinese Medical Association（postauricular injection of methylprednisolone）, while the experimental group was treated with intratympanic injection of monosialotetrahexosylganglioside sodium+postauricular injection of methylprednisolone. Both groups were simultaneously administered oral ginkgo biloba extract and citicoline tablets. Hearing was re-examined two weeks after the completion of treatment, and the therapeutic effects of the two different treatment methods were compared and analyzed. Results:The effective rate was 29.51% in the control group and 54.24% in the experimental group（P<0.01）. The average hearing threshold improved by 11.57 dB HL in the control group and 22.50 dB HL in the experimental group（P<0.05）. Conclusion:The combination of postauricular injection of methylprednisolone and intratympanic injection of ganglioside is more effective than postauricular injection of methylprednisolone alone in the treatment of refractory sudden deafness. The earlier the treatment, the better the therapeutic effect.
Humans ; Middle Aged ; Hearing Loss, Sudden/drug therapy* ; Adult ; Prospective Studies ; Young Adult ; Aged ; Adolescent ; Male ; Female ; Injection, Intratympanic ; Gangliosides/administration & dosage* ; Methylprednisolone/therapeutic use* ; Treatment Outcome

The current review gives a comprehensive overview of the recent development in Chinese medicine (CM) for treating several kinds of acquired nerve deafness and tinnitus, as well as links the traditional principle to well-established pharmacological mechanisms for future research. To date, about 24 herbal species and 40 related ingredients used in CM to treat hearing loss and tinnitus are reported for the treatment of endocochlear potential, endolymph growth, lowering toxic and provocative substance aggregation, inhibiting sensory cell death, and retaining sensory transfer. However, there are a few herbal species that can be used for medicinal purposes. Nevertheless, clinical studies have been hampered by a limited population sample, a deficiency of a suitable control research group, or contradictory results. Enhanced cochlear blood flow, antiinflammatory antioxidant, neuroprotective effects, and anti-apoptotic, as well as multi-target approach on different auditory sections of the inner ear, are all possible benefits of CM medications. There are numerous unknown natural products for aural ailment and tinnitus identified in CM that are expected to be examined in the future utilizing various aural ailment models and processes.
Humans ; Tinnitus/drug therapy* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Hearing Loss/drug therapy*

BACKGROUND: Although combined chemotherapy has increased survival rates among children with cancer, such treatments can induce sensorineural hearing loss. Therefore, we aimed to identify risk factors for hearing impairments in patients with childhood cancer.METHODS: Audiograms were obtained from 115 patients with childhood cancer and survivors (age < 20 years). Pure tone audiometry (PTA) was performed at octave intervals within the range of 250-8000 Hz. We evaluated clinical risk factors associated with hearing impairments. Hearing loss was evaluated based on the maximal decibel (dB) loss in any frequency for each ear (RA(max) or LA(max)) and weighted mean dB loss for specific frequencies (RA(avg) or LA(avg)).RESULTS: Forty percent of patients (N=46) exhibited hearing loss >20 dB based on the weighted mean value in either ear. Severe hearing impairments were observed in 56% of patients with brain tumors. Although cisplatin or vinca alkaloids were significant risk factors for hearing impairment, the use of both cisplatin and vinca alkaloids exhibited the highest odds ratio for hearing impairment (P < 0.001, < 0.001 for R/LA(max); P=0.099, 0.039 for R/LA(avg)). Multivariate analysis revealed that the use of both cisplatin and vinca alkaloids was an independent risk factor for hearing impairment based on RA(max), LA(max), and LA(avg) (P < 0.001, < 0.001, 0.039, respectively).CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that cisplatin and vinca alkaloids exert an additive effect on the risk of hearing impairment in survivors of childhood cancer. Further prospective studies are thus required to determine the most effective chemotherapeutic regimen for reducing ototoxicity.
Audiometry ; Brain Neoplasms ; Child ; Cisplatin ; Drug Therapy ; Ear ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Hearing ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odds Ratio ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate ; Survivors ; Vinca Alkaloids ; Vinca

OBJECTIVETo analyze the efficacy of Methylprednisolone hemisuccinate intratympanic injection for refractory noise induced deafness.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty cases (215 ears) of noise induced deafness were treated with either hormone group (107 ears) or with non hormone group (108 ears). Following prior interventions, 145 ears went on to receive intratympanic Methylprednisolone hemisuccinate injection twice a week.

RESULTSAfter Intratympanic therapy, the total effective rate was 46.2%. 32 of 71 ears (45.1%) demonstrated hearing improvement in hormone group and 35 of 74 ears (47.3%) in non hormone group. The difference was statistically insignificant (P = 0.788).

CONCLUSIONIntratympanic therapy appears to provide additional treatment benefits for patients with refractory noise induced deafness who have been treated with prior interventions. The outcome is not affected by pretreatment with hormone.

Glucocorticoids ; therapeutic use ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; drug therapy ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Injection, Intratympanic ; Methylprednisolone Hemisuccinate ; therapeutic use ; Noise ; Treatment Outcome

We report on a patient with brain metastasis involving bilateral internal auditory canal from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A 49-year-old woman who had been diagnosed with NSCLC (T2aN1M0) complained of persistent vertigo and bilateral tinnitus for three months. The patient had refused all treatments, including surgery and chemotherapy; however, she sought alternative medicine. The patient's hearing loss showed rapid progression bilaterally, and rotatory vertigo with peripheral-type nystagmus developed. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed irregular nodular enhancement within both internal auditory canals with leptomeningeal enhancement and multiple intracranial metastasis. The patient was treated with epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and the tumor showed partial response. This was a rare case of multiple brain metastases involving bilateral internal auditory canal from known NSCLC presenting with vertigo and hearing loss.
Brain ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Complementary Therapies ; Drug Therapy ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Female ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Phosphotransferases ; Tinnitus ; Vertigo

OBJECTIVES: Neuroblastoma (NBL) predominantly affects children under 5 years of age. Through multimodal therapy, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, the survival rate in patients with NBL have improved while treatment-related complications have also increased. Treatment-related ototoxicity, mainly from cisplatin, can result in profound hearing loss requiring cochlear implantation (CI). We analyzed the effectiveness and hearing preservation of CI recipients who had treated with multimodal therapy due to NBL. METHODS: Patients who received multimodal therapy for NBL and subsequent CIs were enrolled. A detailed review of the perioperative hearing test, speech evaluation, and posttreatment complications was conducted. Speech performance was analyzed using the category of auditory performance (CAP) score and the postoperative hearing preservation of low frequencies was also compared. Patients who were candidates for electro-acoustic stimulation (EAS) used an EAS electrode for low frequency hearing preservation. RESULTS: Three patients were identified and all patients showed improvement of speech performance after CI. The average of CAP score improved from 4.3 preoperatively to 5.8 at 1 year postoperatively. Two patients who were fitted with the Flex electrode showed complete hearing preservation and the preserved hearing was maintained over 1 year. The one remaining patient was given the standard CI-512 electrode and showed partial hearing preservation. CONCLUSION: Patients with profound hearing loss resulting from NBL multimodal therapy can be good candidates for CI, especially for EAS. A soft surgical technique as well as a specifically designed electrode should be applied to this specific population during the CI operation in order to preserve residual hearing and achieve better outcomes.
Child* ; Cisplatin ; Cochlear Implantation* ; Cochlear Implants* ; Combined Modality Therapy* ; Drug Therapy ; Electrodes ; Hearing Loss* ; Hearing Tests ; Hearing* ; Humans ; Neuroblastoma* ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Radiotherapy ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The effectiveness of intratympanic dexamethasone injections (ITD) alone is compared against the combination therapy of ITD and oral diuretics as treatments for acute low frequency sensorineural hearing loss (LFHL) without vertigo. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A total of 36 patients, with LFHL < or =500 Hz that had been developed within the last 1 month, were enrolled and then were retrospectively categorized into two groups: 1) those treated with ITD four times each day for 4 consecutive days (ITD only group; 19 patients) and 2) those treated with ITD in the same way and diuretics orally for 2 weeks (combination group; 17 patients). After 8 weeks, treatment outcomes were analyzed for LFHL using subjective improvement and audiometric change. RESULTS: Hearing thresholds at low frequencies < or =500 Hz were significantly reduced at 8 weeks after treatment in both ITD only and combination group (p<0.05). The cure rate of the combination group was higher than that of the ITD only group but was not statistically significant (52.9% vs. 42.1%, p>0.05). For subjective symptoms, there were no statistically significant differences in the improvement rate in either group (combination 58.8% vs. ITD only 63.2%, p>0.05). In pure tone audiometry, the improvement rate of the combination group was not significantly different from that of the ITD only group (76.5% vs. 73.7%, p>0.05). There was a significant correlation between the complete recovery rate and duration of symptoms. CONCLUSION: ITD alone is an effective treatment modality for LFHL within 1 month after onset. Diuretics have no additive effect for the recovery of hearing in patients with acute LFHL without vertigo.
Audiometry ; Dexamethasone ; Diuretics* ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural* ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Steroids ; Vertigo*

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy of intratympanic steroid injection as supplementary or initial treatment for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). METHOD: A total of 68 patients diagnosed with SSNHL were randomized into group A (45 cases including systemic steroid for 33 cases and systemic steroid + intratympanic steroid as supplementary treatment for 12 cases) and group B (23 cases, initial intratympanic steroid). Then observe the therapeutic effect in two groups. RESULT: The total effective rate was 55.6% in group A and 56.5% in group B. No statistical difference was detected between these two groups (P > 0.05). There was statistical difference after therapy of intratympanic steroid as supplementary treatment for 12 patients due to poor hearing improvement after systemic steroid in group A (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Both systemic and intratympanic steroid injection for SSNHL are effective. The efficiency of intratympanic steroid injection as supplementary or initial treatment for SSNHL is similar to that of systemic steroid. The intratympanic steroid injection for SSNHL as initial protocol or as supplementary treatment when poor hearing improvement after systemic steroid is recommended.
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; drug therapy ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Injection, Intratympanic ; Steroids ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Tympanic Membrane

OBJECTIVE: To explore the treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss with steroid from different administration routes. METHOD: One hundred and eighty-eight patients with diagnosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss were selected, in accordance with the random number table, and all patients were divided into three groups. With different administration routes, they were devided into systemic steroid therapy group, intratympanic steroid therapy group and postauricular steroid therapy group,and the curative effects were collected and analyzed. RESULT: The total effective rate was 78.26% in systemic steroid therapy group, 80.70% in intratympanic steroid therapy group and 80.65% in postauricularsteroid therapy group,and no statistical difference was detected among these three groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION The treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss with steroid from different adminsthation routes all can achieve a relatively favorable prognosis, and there were no obvious different among those different treatments.
Administration, Oral ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Dexamethasone ; administration & dosage ; Glucocorticoids ; administration & dosage ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Steroids ; Treatment Outcome ; Tympanic Membrane

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of intratympanic dexamethasone injection for the moderate and severe sudden deafness with BPPV. METHOD: A total of 63 patients diagnosed with sudden sensorineural hearing loss with BPPV were treated through OPD. Patients were divided into three groups: 20 cases in intratympanic dexamethasone injection as initial treatment (group A); 18 cases in systemic hormone therapy group (group B); 25 cases in intratympanic dexamethasone injection as salvage treatment (group C). In addition, routine drugs were used to all patients. RESULT: The overall effective rate of group A, B and C in hearing recovery was 60.0%, 38.9% and 48.0%, respectively: (1) No significant difference of hearing recovery was observed among three groups (P > 0.05); (2) A significant difference of hearing recovery was evidenced between group A and C (P < 0.05); (3) A significant difference of hearing recovery was evidenced between group A and C (P < 0.05); (4) No statistically significant difference was found in the hearing recovery between group B and C (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION Our data showed that intratympanic dexamethasone should be used as initial therapy for treating the moderate and severe sudden deafness with BPPV.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo ; complications ; Dexamethasone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; complications ; drug therapy ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; complications ; drug therapy ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Injection, Intratympanic ; Salvage Therapy ; Treatment Outcome