Study design
Patients seen in the [removed for blind peer review] ENT minor
procedures clinic between June 2015 and December 2019 for salvage ITS
for SSNHL were identified from examination of clinic records, coding
records and patient notes. All patients fulfilled the criteria for SSNHL
and completed treatment within an 8 week timeframe This yielded 38
patients, 32 of whom were included, with 6 patients excluded due to
incomplete notes. Data was anonymised throughout. Average PTA values
were calculated as a mean of 4 frequencies (0.5, 1, 2 and 4kHz). PTA’s
were compared pre- and post-oral and ITS treatment, with final PTAs
undertaken 6 weeks following the last ITS injection. Speech audiograms
were not routinely available for patients on this emergency pathway. We
acknowledge this as a limitation to the study. Hearing recovery was
assessed utilising the standardized format detailed by Gurgel et
al.6 Complete recovery was defined as a return of
hearing to within 10dB of the unaffected ear. Partial recovery was
defined as a greater than 10dB gain in hearing on the affected side but
not returning to within 10dB of the unaffected ear. This was then
further sub categorised as to whether the ear was rendered serviceable
or not. No recovery was defined as anything less than a 10dB improvement
in the affected ear.