| Wilson WR and Byl FM, 1980, USA | Patients attending within 10 days of a 30 decibel sudden sensorineural hearing loss in at least 3 contiguous frequencies for whom no cause could be found. | Prospective double-blind trial, combining the results from two centres | Recovery of 50% of the original hearing loss | 20/33 (61%) in steroid group and 11/34 (32%) in placebo group: significant 0.01<p<0.025 | Not randomised |
| | | | | Poor design |
| | | | | Not analysed with intention to treat |
| | | | | Short follow up |
| | | | | Different steroids used |
| Moskowitz D et al, 1984, USA | Patients attending a private ENT clinic over a 10 year period with idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss (n = 36) | Prospective cohort | Recovery of 50% of the original hearing loss | 24/27 (89%) with steroids and 4/9 (44%) without: statistically significant 0.005<p<0.01 | Not randomised |
| Cinamon U et al, 2001, Israel | 41 patients with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss | Prospective randomised controlled trial | Early audiometric outcome | No difference | No power study |
| Randomised to prednisolone placebo tablets, carbogen inhalation or room air | | Late audiometric outcome | No difference | Sample size not calculated |
| | | | | Not blinded |
| | | | | Small numbers |
| Kitajiri S et al, 2002, Japan | 78 patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss | Controlled trial | Recovery rate | 81% v 79% | Non-randomised before and after design |
| Normal treatment v normal treatment plus steroids | | Time from start of treatment to improvement | 3.9 days v 3.7 days | |
| Chen CY et al, 2003, Taiwan | 318 patients presenting with sudden unilateral sensorineural hearing loss over 10 years | Observational study | Recovery of hearing (pure tone average) in severe cases | Better in those on steroids | Non-randomised study describing outcomes in a centre committed to steroid treatment |
| Steroid treatment v none (patients who refused) | | Recovery of hearing (pure tone average) in milder cases | No difference | |