AAO-HNSF clinical practice guideline: Sudden hearing loss
March 1, 2012 in Surgery On March 1, 2012
American Academy of Otolaryngology
the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation published a
new Clinical Practice Guideline on Sudden Hearing Loss (SHL). This guideline is published as a
supplement to Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. A sudden loss of hearing is a frightening
symptom that most often prompts urgent medical care. Current diagnosis and treatment plans vary
greatly. This guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis, management,
and follow-up of adults who present with SHL. Prompt, accurate recognition and management of
sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), a subset of SHL, may improve hearing recovery and
patient quality of life. SSNHL affects 5 to 20 per 100,000 population, with about 4,000 new cases
per year in the United States.
The purpose of this guideline is to provide all clinicians who may encounter patients with
SHL with evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis, counseling, treatment, and follow-up.
By focusing on opportunities for quality improvement, the guideline should improve diagnostic
accuracy, facilitate prompt intervention, decrease variations in management, reduce unnecessary
tests and imaging procedures, and improve hearing and rehabilitative outcomes for affected
patients.
"We are pleased that this guideline provides doctors with a set of evidence-based
recommendations for patients who present with sudden hearing loss. This guideline will help
advance the care of afflicted patients and result in improved outcomes," said Robert J. Stachler,
MD, Guideline Chair.
Key Points for the AAO-HNSF Clinical Practice Guideline: Sudden Hearing Loss
What is sudden hearing loss and why is it important? Sudden hearing loss (SHL) is a
frightening symptom that often prompts an urgent or emergent visit to a physician. The guideline
primarily focuses on sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in adult patients (aged 18 and
over).
The panel recognized that patients enter the health care system with SHL as a nonspecific,
primary complaint. Therefore, the initial recommendations of the guideline deal with efficiently
distinguishing SSNHL from other causes of SHL at the time of presentation. Prompt recognition
and management of SSNHL may improve hearing recovery and patient quality of life (QOL).
SSNHL affects 5 to 20 per 100,000 population, with about 4,000 new cases per year in the United
States.
Why is the sudden hearing loss guideline newsworthy? This is the first evidence-based
guideline on sudden hearing loss in the United States. The guideline's recommendations should
improve diagnostic accuracy, facilitate prompt intervention, decrease inappropriate variations in
management, reduce unnecessary tests and imaging procedures, and improve hearing and