The effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to the final outcome of patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

INTERVENTION: The patients who fulfill the inclusion criteria after randomization are divided into two groups. The intervention will be administered by the treating physician. The study group includes patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss, admitted to the hospital. They receive intravenous steroids under tapering dose schedule (8mg Dexamethasone x3 for 3 days, 8mg x2 for 3 days and 8mgx1 for 3 days). They also undergo 15 daily sessions (Monday to Friday) of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in a multiplace chamber at 2.2 ATA in the urban Department of Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine. The sessions start 4 days after the onset of the steroid schedule and each one includes 2 periods of 40 min of breathing 100% oxygen through an appropriate mask checked for leaks with a 5‐ minute air break between the two periods. CONDITION: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss PRIMARY OUTCOME: Pure‐tone hearing average including 250, 500, 1.000, 2.000, 4.000 and 8.000 Hz using pure tone audiometry. (composite primary outcome) SECONDARY OUTCOME: Auditory status at frequency 1.000 Hz using pure tone audiometry. Auditory status at frequency 2.000 Hz using pure tone audiometry. Auditory status at frequency 250 Hz using pure tone audiometry. Auditory status at frequency 4.000 Hz using pure tone audiometry. Auditory status at frequency 500 Hz using pure tone audiometry. Auditory status at frequency 8.000 Hz using pure tone audiometry. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss