Seasonal distribution of sudden sensori̇neural hearing loss

Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL) is sensorineural hearing loss that occurs in 3 days or less, characterized by 30 dBHL or more, over at least 3 contiguous audiometric frequencies. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the SSHL incidence and its relationship with the seasons retrospectively by examining the patients diagnosed with SSHL in our clinic in the last 10 years. In our study, the files of 1920 patients diagnosed with SSHL in our hospital between January 2000 and December 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were evaluated separately according to age groups, gender, sudden hearing loss, months and seasons. SSHL was most common in January and October, but this difference was not statistically significant compared to other months (p>0.05). When the distribution according to the seasons was examined, it was observed that 28% of patients were in winter, 24% in spring, 26% in autumn and 22% in summer. The difference between seasons was not statistically significant (p>0.05). In October, the first month of the autumn season, and January, the first month of the winter season, we can attribute the high rate of SSHL to seasonal transitions. However, a more detailed study is required in this regard. A more precise result could be achieved with data on annual temperature transitions, humidity status and frequency of viral infections, which can only give us a preliminary information.