Potential Benefits of Flunarizine in Patients with Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss with Incomplete Recovery Following Conventional Steroid Treatment: A Retrospective Analysis

<i>Objectives</i>: This study assessed the potential benefits of supplemental flunarizine administration in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) experiencing incomplete recovery with conventional steroid treatment. <i>Methods</i>: Thirty-nine SSNHL patients, unresponsive to conventional steroid therapy, received either oral ginkgo biloba (control group, <i>n</i> = 24) or a combination of oral ginkgo biloba and flunarizine (treatment group, <i>n</i> = 15). Pure-tone average (PTA) evaluation at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz was conducted upon each patient's visits. A change of ≥10 dB was considered 'significant hearing gain'. <i>Results</i>: The treatment group showed a higher rate of hearing gain ≥10 dB (46.7%) compared to the control group (12.5%) (<i>p</i> = 0.03). Additional treatment with flunarizine was associated with greater improvement in hearing thresholds compared with ginkgo biloba alone (<i>p</i> = 0.004), suggesting a potential therapeutic benefit. <i>Conclusion</i>: This retrospective study suggests that flunarizine may provide additional benefit in patients with SSNHL experiencing incomplete recovery following conventional steroid treatment. These findings are preliminary and require validation in larger, controlled studies.