THE INFLUENCE OF WEATHER ON THE INCIDENCE OF SUDDEN IDIOPATHIC - HEARING-LOSS

Background: The etiology of sudden idiopathic hearing loss is not know n. Among other causes, vascular disease is discussed as a possible pat homechanism in sudden hearing loss. Since other vascular diseases such as myocardial infarction, migraine, and open-angle glaucoma show a cl ear meteorotropy, it was the aim of the present prospective study to i nvestigate the dependence of sudden hearing loss on weather parameters . Patients and Methods: The incidence, the extent, and the remission o f sudden idiopathic hearing loss in 128 patients were correlated with atmospheric pressure and temperature during a period of 12 months. Res ults: The group of patients with a complete recovery of hearing thresh olds was characterized by the smallest changes of atmospheric pressure and temperature, whereas patients with no recovery of hearing had the highest values for atmospheric pressure and temperature changes. Howe ver, a statistically significant correlation of sudden hearing loss wi th absolute values or relative changes of atmospheric air pressure or temperature was not found. Likewise, there was no seasonal dependence. Conclusion: The results indicate that sudden idiopathic hearing loss occurs independently of weather parameters.