Hearing Loss

Study results from Baskent University in the area of hearing loss published

"Eleven female and three male patients with LFSHL were included in this study. They were evaluated with pure-tone audiometry, acoustic admittance, transient evoked otoacoustic emission, and glycerol test. Seven, four, and three patients were seen within the mean of 2.86 +/- A 1.35 (1-5), 18.25 +/- A 2.36 (15-20), and 750 +/- A 700 (60-1,460) days from onset of LFSHL, respectively. They were treated with daily intratympanic dexamethasone (ITD) injection and reviewed with repeated daily audiograms during the intratympanic treatment. As complementary treatment, they were given oral prednisolone 1 mg/kg (maximum 60 mg), with 10 mg decreasing doses for every 3 days. were compared with their unaffected ear. The mean +/- A SD hearing level at 0.125 up to 1.5 kHz improved from 64.29 +/- A 19.18 to 25.93 +/- A 13.54 (P < 0.001), pure tone average improved from 62.7 +/- A 25.7 to 22.9 +/- A 17.8 (P < 0.001), speech reception thresholds improved from 34.6 +/- A 29.45 to 17.5 +/- A 16.38 (P = 0.028), speech discrimination scores improved from 65.7 +/- A 39.8 to 84.6 +/- A 24.7% (P = 0.024) with treatment. Complete recovery in 10 of 14 patients, partial recovery in 3 patients, was achieved after therapy; and in one patient the situation was unchanged. The mean hearing level at 0.125 up to 1.5 kHz was elevated from 45.6 +/- A 17.5 to 9.1 +/- A 10.3 dB (P < 0.001) when compared with unaffected ear. The mean recovery rate was 77.9 +/- A 25.3%," wrote N. Alatas and colleagues, Baskent University.

The researchers concluded: "ITD is an effective therapy for LFSHL.."

Alatas and colleagues published their study in European Archives of Oto - Rhino - Laryngology (Use of intratympanic dexamethasone for the therapy of low frequency hearing loss. European Archives of Oto - Rhino - Laryngology, 2009;266(8):1205-1212).

For additional information, contact N. Alatas, Baskent University Konya Arastirma Uygulama Merkezi, Hoca Cihan Mah Saray Cad 1, TR-42080 Selcuklu, Konya, Turkey.

The publisher's contact information for the journal European Archives of Oto - Rhino - Laryngology is: Springer, 233 Spring St., New York, NY 10013, USA.

Keywords: Turkey, Konya, Audiology, Clinical Trial Research, Dexamethasone, Drugs, Laryngology, Otolaryngology, Pharmaceuticals, Prednisolone, Sensorineural Hearing Loss, Therapy, Treatment, Baskent University.

This article was prepared by Biotech Business Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Biotech Business Week via NewsRx.com.