Patient-reported experience with intratympanic corticosteroid injections in sudden hearing loss: a single-centre prospective study

BACKGROUND: Intratympanic corticosteroid (ITC) injections are recommended as salvage therapy for patients with incomplete recovery 2-6 weeks after the onset of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). AIMS/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate patient experiences with ITC therapy and assess treatment side effects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifteen patients with SSHL eligible for ITC therapy were prospectively enrolled and received a total of 43 ITC injections. They completed questionnaires on treatment- and disease-related symptoms and side effects, rated using a visual analogue scale (VAS), before and after each injection and at 2-week and 3-month follow-up. Audiometric outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: Treatment-related discomfort was low, with mean VAS scores <2 for pain at anaesthesia application and <3 for pain at injection. Twelve patients found the treatment worth the effort, and none regretted participating in the study. Two weeks after the last injection, none of the patients reported residual side effects; however, many patients reported residual hearing loss, sensitivity to sound, tinnitus, and dizziness also at the 3-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: ITC treatment was well-tolerated by patients. The symptoms reported at 3 months after SSHL onset highlights the need for future SSHL studies to address tinnitus, sound sensitivity, and dizziness in addition to hearing recovery.