Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

The SSNHL Hearing Science Accelerator brought together several individuals from across the hearing science field to provide expert input into the initiative. The steering committee, content experts, field experts, and stakeholders, all joined and collaborated throughout multiple virtual meetings and during the in-person workshop on April 21-23, 2023 in Washington D.C., to produce meaningful research priorities that will be used to understand etiologies and improve the diagnostic capabilities and treatments for SSNHL.

Steering Committee

The House Hearing Science Accelerator leadership team includes the PI/Program Chair and program steering committee. These individuals are all experts in neurotology.

William H. Slattery III, MD, HSA Program Chair, President House Ear Clinic, Clinical Professor, University of California Los Angeles

Sujana Chandrasekhar, MD, ENT & Allergy Associates, former President of AAO-HNS (2015- 2016), Council Member, American Otological Society

David Haynes, MD, FACS, MMHC, Professor, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center 

Seth Schwartz, MD, MPH, ENT-Otolaryngologist & Neurotologist, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health

Andrea Vambutas, MD, Chair of Otolaryngology, Long Island Jewish Medical Center and North Shore University Hospital, Director of Center of Hearing & Balance at NY Head & Neck Institute, Medical Director of Apelian Cochlear Implant Center

The Experts

Twenty-eight experts in/around sudden hearing loss participated from 22 different institutions.

Participants Institutions
Ali Andalibi, PhD Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Simon Angeli, MD University of Miami
Nick Andresen, MD Johns Hopkins University
Seilesh Babu, MD Michigan Ear Institute
William Britt, MD University of Alabama at Birmingham
Jay C. Buckey Jr., MD Dartmouth College
John Butman, MD, PhD NIH Clinical Center
Sujana Chandrasekhar, MD ENT & Allergy Associates, LLP
Katharine Fernandez, AuD, PhD NIH NIDCD
David Haynes, MD Vanderbilt University
Ronna Hertzano, MD, PhD NIH NIDCD
Keiko Hirose, MD Washington University
Michael Hoa, MD NIH NIDCD
Sarah Hodge, MD Augusta University
Marissa Howard, PhD George Mason University
Anil Lalwani, MD Columbia University
Lance Liotta, MD, PhD George Mason University
Alessandra Luchini, PhD George Mason University
Norma de Olivera Penido, MD, PhD Federal University of Sao Paulo
Kourosh Parham, MD University of Connecticut
Stefan Plontke, MD Martin Luther University
Halle-Wittenberg Alicia Quesnel, MD Massachusetts Eye and Ear / Harvard University
Steven Douglas Rauch, MD Massachusetts Eye and Ear / Harvard University
James Saunders, MD Dartmouth College
Reimar Schlingensiepen, MD AudioCure Pharma GmbH
Seth Schwartz, MD, MPH Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
William Slattery, MD PIH Health House Ear Clinic
Douglas Stewart, MD NIH NCI
Andrea Vambutas, MD Northwell Health
Brian Westerberg, MD University of British Columbia

Workshop Pictures

Summary of Research Priorities:

At the in-person SSNHL HSA workshop, research objectives from the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment subcommittees were presented to a large group of experts. A vote was held amongst the group to identify the highest priority research objectives. The 8 research questions with the most votes were selected as top research priorities.

Question 1. Do steroids really work? Are steroids effective therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss?

Question 2. Can acute MRI predict response to treatment?

Question 3. How can we use functional and imaging studies to identify the site of lesion, better predict prognosis or treatment protocol?

Question 4. Can a biobank and patient registry be developed in order to determine the etiology of SSNHL?

Question 5. Can perilymph obtained during cochlear implantation or during the acute presentation aid in diagnosis and/or treatment of SSNHL? 

Question 6. Can we standardize outcome measures in SSHL? 

Question 7. How can we use existing temporal bone specimens to better understand the etiology of SSNHL?

Question 8. Does the timing of treatment matter?

SSNHL Progress:

  • HSA for SSNHL initiated in October 2022
  • In-person HSA workshop held on April 21-23, 2023 in Washington D.C.
  • William Slattery, MD presented research priorities at Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings (CSOM) conference in Chicago of May 2024
  • White paper published in Otology & Neurotology journal in October 2024 (link to paper can be found below)
  • Workgroups to address the top research priorities have started to meet and collaborate on projects
  • Update meeting with past SSNHL experts/participants will be arranged

Get Involved:

For questions or ways to get involved, please contact:

Shemms Najjar
Hearing Science Accelerator Coordinator
hsacoordinator@hifla.org 
213-394-7969

Stay Updated On Our Research Efforts

Literature Updates:

 

  • Slattery, W. H., 3rd, Andalibi, A., Angeli, S., Babu, S., Bolt, K., Britt, W., Buckey, J. C., Jr, Butman, J., Chandrasekhar, S., Fernandez, K., Haynes, D., Hertzano, R., Hirose, K., Hoa, M., Hodge, S., Howard, M., Lalwani, A., Liotta, L., Luchini, A., de Oliveira Penido, N., … Andresen, N. (2024). Hearing Science Accelerator: Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss-Executive Summary of Research Initiatives. Otology & neurotology : official publication of the American Otological Society, American Neurotology Society [and] European Academy of Otology and Neurotology, 10.1097/MAO.0000000000004341. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/MAO.0000000000004341 
  • Plontke, S. K., Girndt, M., Meisner, C., Fischer, I., Böselt, I., Löhler, J., Ludwig-Kraus, B., Richter, M., Steighardt, J., Reuter, B., Böttcher, C., Langer, J., Pethe, W., Seiwerth, I., Jovanovic, N., Großmann, W., Kienle-Gogolok, A., Boehm, A., Neudert, M., Diensthuber, M., … HODOKORT Trial Investigators (2024). High-Dose Glucocorticoids for the Treatment of Sudden Hearing Loss. NEJM evidence, 3(1), EVIDoa2300172. https://doi.org/10.1056/EVIDoa2300172
  • Nelson L, Swanson D, Borowiec E,…Hoa M, et al. The Impact of Intratympanic Steroid Dosage on Hearing Recovery in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss. Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology. 2023;132(8):879-887. doi:10.1177/00034894221120125
  • Ying, Y. M., Tseng, C. C., Shin, J., & Rauch, S. (2024). Natural History of Untreated Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss. The Laryngoscope, 134 Suppl 9, S1–S15. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.31474
  • Tomaz A, Peron KA, Suzuki FAB, Monteiro SRG, Chandrasekhar SS, Penido NO. Standard and Extend High-Frequency Audiometry in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Impacts on Tinnitus and Mental Health. Otol Neurotol. 2024 Jun 1;45(5):e366-e375. doi: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000004168 Epub 2024 Mar 21. PMID: 38511269. 
  • Peron KA, Scott MCP, Soeiro TLT, do Amaral JB, Chandrasekhar SS and de Oliveira Penido N (2024) Sudden sensorineural hearing loss: audiological profile during the COVID-19 pandemic. Front. Neurol. 15:1415068. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2024.1415068
  • Scott MCP, Hortense FTP, da Silva MD, França CN, Nali LHDS, Bachi ALL and de Oliveira Penido N (2024) The inflammatory and metabolic status of patients with sudden-onset sensorineural hearing loss. Front. Neurol. 15:1382096. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2024.1382096