• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.289-299
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• 2010

Back ground & Objectives : Bilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSNHL) is very rare disease. This is the first case report in the oriental medical literature. This study describes a case of bilateral SSNHL with incomplete recovery. Methods : We treated 1 patient who had SSNHL sequentially in both ears. He received oriental and western medical treatments for more than 2 weeks and measured the hearing recovery. For diagnosis on this case, pure tone audiometry was used. The degree of improvement was evaluated by Siegel's Criteria. Results & Conclusions : This patient discharged without hearing improvement. For bilateral SSNHL patients, the result of treatment is important for their qualities of life. But the recovery rate of hearing in bilateral SSNHL is lower than unilateral SSNHL. The oriental medical therapy had some theraputic effects on SSNHL and the theraputic effects on bilateral SSNHL requires further study.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.235-240
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• 2021

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a common disorder; however, sequential, bilateral presentation of the disease is rarer than unilateral presentation. Clinical otologists usually focus on treating the side with impaired hearing when patients first present with unilateral SSNHL, and therefore, may not warn patients of the possibility of subsequent hearing impairment in the contralateral ear. Furthermore, it is professionally discouraging when a patient presents with profound, sequential SSNHL after initial treatment. This may adversely impact the doctor-patient relationship, even if the patient is offered the best possible care from their first visit. Herein, we report the case of a patient with profound, idiopathic, bilateral SSNHL with a time interval of 37 days between involvement of both ears. Even though high-dose steroids were administered intraorally and intratympanically, the patient's hearing was not restored, and the patient eventually required bilateral cochlear implant surgery. Our report demonstrates that sequential, profound, bilateral SSNHL may manifest without any specific signs.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.235-240
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• 2021

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a common disorder; however, sequential, bilateral presentation of the disease is rarer than unilateral presentation. Clinical otologists usually focus on treating the side with impaired hearing when patients first present with unilateral SSNHL, and therefore, may not warn patients of the possibility of subsequent hearing impairment in the contralateral ear. Furthermore, it is professionally discouraging when a patient presents with profound, sequential SSNHL after initial treatment. This may adversely impact the doctor-patient relationship, even if the patient is offered the best possible care from their first visit. Herein, we report the case of a patient with profound, idiopathic, bilateral SSNHL with a time interval of 37 days between involvement of both ears. Even though high-dose steroids were administered intraorally and intratympanically, the patient's hearing was not restored, and the patient eventually required bilateral cochlear implant surgery. Our report demonstrates that sequential, profound, bilateral SSNHL may manifest without any specific signs.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.98-105
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• 2016

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report the Korean medical treatment on sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSNHL). Methods : The patient who has been diagnosed SSNHL had symptoms with hearing loss, tinnitus, and aural fullness. The patient was received outpatient to Dunsan oriental hospital for 3 months and was treated with oriental medicine(acupuncture, herbal-medicine, converting of Hominis placenta, warm needling and vapor treatment). Two approaches were used in order to evaluate the effect of the treatment. The hearing recovery was measured with pure tone audiometry, and the decrease of tinnitus and aural fullness was identified by patient's subjective expression. Results : The patient has his hearing restored fully and the symptoms of SSNHL accompanied with adjunctive symptoms including tinnitus and aural fullness were improved.Conclusions : This study shows that the Korean medical treatment effects on the SSNHL.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical features and the clinical factors associated with prognosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in diabetic patients. Subjects and Methods: Forty-nine diabetic with unilateral SSNHL were retrospectively included. All patients received systemic high dose steroid therapy within one month after onset and had more than one month of follow-up audiogram. The basic characteristics of the patients, initial and follow-up audiograms, laboratory data, and methods of steroid treatment were collected. Results: Compared to reference values in healthy subjects, 79%, 55%, and 45% of the patients had higher values of mean neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), respectively. Older patients had significantly less degree of hearing loss, but they also had significantly worse hearing thresholds in the unaffected ear. After steroid treatment, less than half patients (47%) showed hearing recovery. Simultaneous intratympanic dexamethasone (ITD) injections with systemic steroid did not confer an additional hearing gain or an earlier recovery rate in diabetic patients with SSNHL. In the multivariate analysis, initial hearing thresholds of affected ear and timing of steroid treatment were significantly associated with hearing prognosis in diabetic patients with SSNHL. Conclusions: Diabetic patients with SSNHL tended to have increased NLR, LMR, and PLR, which are reported to be associated with microvascular angiopathy. Simultaneous ITD injections to improve hearing recovery in diabetic patients with SSNHL seems unnecessary.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical features and the clinical factors associated with prognosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in diabetic patients. Subjects and Methods: Forty-nine diabetic with unilateral SSNHL were retrospectively included. All patients received systemic high dose steroid therapy within one month after onset and had more than one month of follow-up audiogram. The basic characteristics of the patients, initial and follow-up audiograms, laboratory data, and methods of steroid treatment were collected. Results: Compared to reference values in healthy subjects, 79%, 55%, and 45% of the patients had higher values of mean neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), respectively. Older patients had significantly less degree of hearing loss, but they also had significantly worse hearing thresholds in the unaffected ear. After steroid treatment, less than half patients (47%) showed hearing recovery. Simultaneous intratympanic dexamethasone (ITD) injections with systemic steroid did not confer an additional hearing gain or an earlier recovery rate in diabetic patients with SSNHL. In the multivariate analysis, initial hearing thresholds of affected ear and timing of steroid treatment were significantly associated with hearing prognosis in diabetic patients with SSNHL. Conclusions: Diabetic patients with SSNHL tended to have increased NLR, LMR, and PLR, which are reported to be associated with microvascular angiopathy. Simultaneous ITD injections to improve hearing recovery in diabetic patients with SSNHL seems unnecessary.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.186-195
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report the efficacy of using oriental medical treatment withMelonis Calyxvomiting therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSNHL).Methods : We experienced one case of SSNHL treated with oriental medical treatment(acupuncture, herbal medicine) andMelonis Calyxvomiting therapy(MCVT). MCVT is a traditional treatment, which induces vomiting by eatingMelonis Calyxpowder with water. To evaluate the results of this treatment, we measured the hearing recovery, decrease of tinnitus and vertigo. The degree of hearing improvement was evaluated by Siegel's Criteria. Decrease of tinnitus and vertigo was assessed by Visual Analogue Scale(VAS).Results : The pure tone 5 frequency average improved by 39㏈(marked recovery, from 64㏈ to 25㏈). VAS of tinnitus decreased from 10 to 1, and vertigo decreased from 4 to 0.Conclusions : This study suggests that using MCVT with oriental medical treatment is effective on SSNHL.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.182-192
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• 2017

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report 20 patients who have been diagnosed with sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSNHL) in the Korean medical hospital for last 3 years. Methods : 20 patients who have been hospitalized with a SSNHL in Korean medical hospital from June 2014 to June 2017 were analyzed by reviewing the patients' charts. Results : In the study group, Pure tone audiometry was performed in 17 patients. 3 of them showed 'Marked improvement' in pure tone audiometry. And 6 of them showed 'Slight Improvement.' On the other hand, 9 of them showed 'No response' or even got worse. However, the symptoms accompanied with hearing loss like tinnitus, aural fullness, vertigo improved most of patients. Conclusions : This study shows that the Korean medical treatment is effective in the SSNHL.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.98-108
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• 2013

Objectives : Sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSNHL) is defined as an unexplainable decline in hearing which o㏄urs within a short period of time. This study describes a case of SSNHL accompanied by many unfavourable prognosis factors including severe vertigo. Methods : We treated 1 SSNHL patient who had many unfavourable prognosis factors including severe vertigo. After Korean medical treatment for 23 days, we measured the hearing recovery and decrease of vertigo. For diagnosis, pure tone audiometry was done. The degree of improvement was evaluated by Siegel's Criteria. Decrease of vertigo was assessed by Vertigo Scale. Results & Conclusions : The pure tone 5 frequency(0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, $4_{KHz}$) average improved by 25dB(slightly recovered). Vertigo score decreased from 4 to 1. We may expect that the Korean medical therapy improves the hearing recovery in the SSNHL patients who have unfavourable prognosis factors such as vertigo.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.157-167
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• 2016

Objective : The purpose of this study is to know the effect of Korean medical treatments on sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSNHL) without systemic or intratympanic steroid treatments.Method : We conducted retrospective review who was diagnosed as SSNHL and treated with Korean medicine in Dept. of Otolaryngology Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong. There were two patients with SSNHL who refused to be treated with western medicine and were treated with Korean medicine including acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine.Result : One patient recovered completely after eight days of admission, and another patient partial recovered during 30 days through Korean medical treatments.Conclusion : Through these studies, SSNHL is expected to treated more effectively by conventional Korean medical treatments than corticosteroid treatments alone. But the additional study is needed to reveal the exact effects of Korean medical treatments.