Objective This study aimed to investigate the effect and safety of intratympanic dexamethasone in pregnant women with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL). Methods We performed a prospective study on pregnant women who suffered from ISSNHL and were treated in our clinic during 2016. The patients received intratympanic treatment three to four times a week. A pure tone audiogram (PTA) was performed before treatment and patients were followed up until 2 months after treatment was finished. Results A total of six pregnant women were included. All of the patients tolerated intratympanic treatment well. The mean improvement in hearing was 48 ± 7.33 dB. There were no complications, including permanent perforation of the ear drum or middle ear infection. Each patient delivered a healthy newborn. Conclusion Intratympanic dexamethasone is effective and safe for treating pregnant women with ISSNHL. Further randomized, controlled studies on this treatment need to be performed.

Electrical stimulation synchronized with inspiration may lead to reanimation of paralyzed laryngeal muscles.

Background Salvage intratympanic steroids (ITS) works in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) after failure of initial therapy, but optimal timing of administration is unknown. Methods Two hundred and seventy patients with ISSNHL were included. Among them, 180 were treated with ITS and standard medical treatment (SMT) and the other 90 received SMT along. The hearing threshold before and after salvage treatment were compared. The relationship between the salvage starting time and hearing recovery was analyzed. Results The hearing of ITS group improved more than that of the SMT group in all frequency bands. The effect of both strategies decreases with the delay of the starting time. ITS can improve hearing even if being administrated 5 weeks after onset while SMT failed after 3 weeks. Conclusion Patients with profound ISSNHL can obtain extra hearing recovery from salvage ITS. The earlier salvage starts, the greater the patient benefits.

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