TY - JOUR T1 - An investigation of the audiologic handicap associated with unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss. AU - Chiossoine-Kerdel,J A, AU - Baguley,D M, AU - Stoddart,R L, AU - Moffat,D A, PY - 2000/9/19/pubmed PY - 2001/3/3/medline PY - 2000/9/19/entrez SP - 645 EP - 51 JF - The American journal of otology JO - Am J Otol VL - 21 IS - 5 N2 - OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of tinnitus and associated handicap after unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL); in addition, to determine the hearing handicap experienced as a consequence of such a loss. STUDY DESIGN: Identification of patients and determination of demographic and audiologic data by retrospective case review; determination of handicap and distress by postal questionnaire. SETTING: Teaching hospital department of otolaryngology. PATIENTS: Thirty-eight patients were identified as having been treated for a unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss in the period 1988 through 1997. Of those, 21 (55.3%) replied to the questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Audiometric data at admission and at 4-week follow-up, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), visual analogue scales of tinnitus loudness and distress, Hearing Handicap Inventory in Adults (HHIA). RESULTS: The questionnaire responder group did not significantly differ from the questionnaire nonresponder group on demographic nor audiometric variables, and hence were considered to be a representative sample. Tinnitus was present in 14 patients (67%). Hearing handicap was found in 86% of patients (of the 21 questionnaire responders) and tinnitus handicap in 57% (of the 14 with tinnitus). Correlations were found between tinnitus loudness, distress, and handicap. There was no correlation between time elapsed since SSNHL and tinnitus or hearing handicap, nor was there a correlation between the extent of audiometric loss and hearing or tinnitus handicap. A strong negative correlation was, however, found between recovery in audiometry in the first 4 weeks after onset and tinnitus and hearing handicap. The audiometric status of the contralateral ear correlated with hearing handicap. CONCLUSIONS: A majority of patients after unilateral SSNHL have a perceived handicap associated with tinnitus and hearing. Although this condition is an otologic emergency, careful thought should be given to the audiologic rehabilitation of this patient group. SN - 0192-9763 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/10993452/An_investigation_of_the_audiologic_handicap_associated_with_unilateral_sudden_sensorineural_hearing_loss_ L2 - http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&PAGE=linkout&SEARCH=10993452.ui DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -