Unexpected Spontaneous Recovery From Profound Sensorineural Hearing Loss Induced by Radiation in a Patient With a Skull Base Tumor

Radiation-induced sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) typically manifests as progressive, irreversible hearing deterioration. We report an unusual case of profound SNHL with remarkable spontaneous recovery following radiation therapy for jugular foramen schwannoma. A 56-year-old male developed profound right-sided SNHL two months after completing radiation therapy for jugular foramen schwannoma. Initial audiometry revealed 0% word recognition scores and profound hearing loss across all frequencies. However, audiological assessment one year post-radiation demonstrated remarkable recovery, with word recognition scores improving from 0% to 92% and substantial threshold improvements at low and mid frequencies. The patient's hearing recovery eliminated the need for cochlear implantation, and he was successfully managed with acoustic amplification. This case demonstrates that meaningful hearing recovery can occur despite an initially poor prognosis following radiation therapy for skull base tumors. Clinicians should maintain extended observation periods and ongoing audiological and radiological monitoring before considering irreversible interventions such as cochlear implantation.