Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Children-Management and Outcomes: A Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE To identify which patient characteristics and treatments are associated with hearing improvement in patients with pediatric sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). METHODS PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature were systematically searched for articles published before February 5, 2019, and references of relevant articles were screened. Original English-language case series and cohort studies were included if they addressed SSNHL in patients 12 years (OR: 2.11, P = .002), and ascending audiogram (OR: 3.66, P = .005), but not systemic or intratympanic steroids, were associated with increased odds of partial or complete improvement. In contrast, profound hearing loss (OR: 0.29, P  6 days (OR: 0.27, P < .001) were associated with decreased odds of improvement. CONCLUSIONS Despite treatment, half of patients had no improvement in hearing. Prognostic factors associated with hearing improvement were generally consistent with those established in the adult population. Further research with consistent definitions for hearing improvement is needed to improve the understanding and treatment of pediatric SSNHL. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Laryngoscope, 2020.