Subjects and study design

A retrospective chart review was performed at our hospital between June 2017 and August 2019. A total of 11 pregnant patients who were diagnosed with SSNHL which was defined as an acute decline in the hearing thresholds over 30 dB in at least 3 adjacent frequencies within 72 h by pure-tone audiogram were included in this research. All patients persisted in our treatment and followed up without any other therapies. The exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) Patients had diseases that could cause sensorineural hearing loss such as chronic otitis media, otosclerosis, Ménière's disease, large vestibular aqueduct syndrome, cerebrovascular conditions or autoimmune diseases; (2) Patients who recently underwent otologic surgeries; and (3) Patients who had a recurrent SSNHL. Patients’ medical history in detail was acquired by an otologist and an obstetrician. The obstetricians recorded the gestation period, the basic maternal conditions, the occurrence of pregnancy-related complications, and the state of the fetus in the uterus. Otologists documented the demographic data such as age, side, time from onset to clinical visit, concomitant symptoms (vertigo, tinnitus, and aural fullness) and regular ear-nose-throat or otorhinolaryngology (ENT) manifestations.

Eleven patients were categorized into two groups based on their choice of treatment. Seven patients in the treatment group received intratympanic dexamethasone injection while four patients in the control group received no medication other than bed rest and medical observations.

All the patients were fully informed of the treatment modalities and the associated risks of medication or medical observations. The study was reviewed and approved by the Shenzhen People’s Hospital Institutional Review Board. All study participants, or their legal guardian, provided informed written consent prior to study enrollment.