Sudden sensorineural hearing loss in children: Our experiences in tertiary care teaching hospital of eastern India

Aim of the study
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is an uncommon clinical entity in children. The etiopathogenesis, clinical profile and management are not well understood and the incidence is not well known in medical literature. The goal of this study is to evaluate prevalence, etiology, treatment and outcome of SSNHL in the pediatric patients.

Material and methods
We had undertaken a retrospective study of the children below 18 years of age with SSNHL treated between July 2014 to August 2017. The data assessed were age, sex, clinical manifestations, onset of hearing loss, audiological profile, other diagnostic tools, treatment and outcome.

Results
The average age of the children presenting with SSNHL is 10.43 years (1-18 years). Twelve patients (6 right and 6 left) had unilateral hearing loss and 5 patients had bilateral hearing loss. Hearing loss ranges from profound (52.94%) to mild and unknown etiology in 70.58% and viral 29.41%. Hearing was completely improved in 5 cases (29.41%), partially improved in 8 cases (47.05%) and no improvement in 3 cases (17.64%). When comparing oral with oral plus intratympanic (IT) steroid, hearing output is stastically significant (p = 0.04020) with 95% confidential level is 0.69 to 0.02 and t = 2.1381.

Conclusions
The exact incidences of SSNHL in pediatric age groups are not established in medical literature. Pediatric patients are usually delayed presentations and associated with unknown etiology in majority of cases. SSNHL has serious impact on life and it should be follow up for preventing morbidities and for starting rehabilitation program as early as possible.