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
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
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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
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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