Prognostic factors of sudden hearing loss in children

Objective: Sudden hearing loss in children under 15 years old is rare and i ts pathophysiology remains unclear. The aim of this retrospective study was to define prognostic factors of sudden hearing loss in children under 15 y ears old. Methods: Among the patients referred to our institution during th e period 1990-1999 for sudden hearing loss, 12 children were considered eli gible for this study (mean age = 9.5 years old). Patients were divided into three groups according to hearing recovery and seven putative prognostic f actors were analyzed. Results: Total hearing recovery (group I: 90-100%) oc curred in 28.5% of cases, partial hearing recovery (group II: 11-89%) occur red in 28.5% of cases and absence of recovery (group III: 0-10%) was report ed in 43% of cases. Factors such as age, sex, and bilaterality of hearing l oss were not correlated with hearing recovery. Conclusions: Initial severe hearing loss, associated vertigo and 'downward' audiometric curve were thre e negative prognostic factors of hearing recovery. Tinnitus has only been r eported in children with partial or total hearing recovery. (C) 2001 Elsevi er Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.