Clinical analysis of recurrent sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Objective: Although the literature includes many reports of the causes, pathogenesis, diagnostic criteria, treatment, and prognostic factors of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), few studies have examined recurrent SSNHL. This prompted us to investigate recurrent SSNHL. Study Design: Retrospective study of the hearing results of patients with recurrent SSNHL. Methodology: We reviewed retrospectively the medical charts of 809 patients with SSNHL examined between January 2000 and June 2011 for information on their history, audiometric results, and magnetic resonance imaging findings. Results: Eleven of the 809 patients had recurrent idiopathic SSNHL. In these 11 patients, the more than partial recovery of hearing after the second attack was poorer than after the first attack, and the second attack of SSNHL was ipsilateral in 10 of the 11 patients. Conclusion: The hearing outcome was poorer after a recurrent episode than after the first episode, and SSNHL almost always recurs in the same ear.