Study design
Patients seen in the [removed for blind peer review] ENT minor procedures clinic between June 2015 and December 2019 for salvage ITS for SSNHL were identified from examination of clinic records, coding records and patient notes. All patients fulfilled the criteria for SSNHL and completed treatment within an 8 week timeframe This yielded 38 patients, 32 of whom were included, with 6 patients excluded due to incomplete notes. Data was anonymised throughout. Average PTA values were calculated as a mean of 4 frequencies (0.5, 1, 2 and 4kHz). PTA’s were compared pre- and post-oral and ITS treatment, with final PTAs undertaken 6 weeks following the last ITS injection. Speech audiograms were not routinely available for patients on this emergency pathway. We acknowledge this as a limitation to the study. Hearing recovery was assessed utilising the standardized format detailed by Gurgel et al.6 Complete recovery was defined as a return of hearing to within 10dB of the unaffected ear. Partial recovery was defined as a greater than 10dB gain in hearing on the affected side but not returning to within 10dB of the unaffected ear. This was then further sub categorised as to whether the ear was rendered serviceable or not. No recovery was defined as anything less than a 10dB improvement in the affected ear.