Factors Influencing the Time to Treatment of Patients with Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

<b>Objective:</b> To identify the factors that influence the time to treatment (TT) in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL). <b>Method:</b> This study included a total of 324 patients with ISSNHL, who were treated at our department between September 2021 and May 2024. Basic information and audiological indicators of patients were collected, and their relationship with the TT was analyzed. <b>Results:</b> The patients were classified into long-term (TT >7 days, <i>n</i> = 75) and short-term groups (TT ≤7 days, <i>n</i> = 249). A significant difference was observed in sex, type of hearing loss, pretreatment hearing threshold, average improved hearing threshold, linear distance, and effective rate between the 2 groups. <b>Conclusion:</b> The average pretreatment hearing threshold and linear distance are related to the TT, and both of them are independent influencing factors. Patients with mild hearing loss and long linear distance from hospital may have a longer TT.