Inner Ear Hemorrhage Detected by MRI Linked to Worse Prognosis in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Study Shows

The study led to the following findings:

• Patients with MRI-detected inner ear hemorrhage had significantly more severe hearing loss compared to those without hemorrhage.
• Differences in hearing before and after treatment were more pronounced in the hemorrhage group.
• The recovery of hearing at speech frequencies (0.5, 1, 2 kHz) was better in the group without inner ear hemorrhage.
• The non-hemorrhage group experienced fewer symptoms of dizziness and had a better prognosis for dizziness.

The study authors emphasize the pivotal role of MRI in identifying the location of inner ear hemorrhage and predicting the prognosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss. The presence of inner ear hemorrhage on MR imaging provides valuable insights into the severity of symptoms and the potential for recovery in SSNHL patients. As observed, patients with inner ear hemorrhage experienced more severe symptoms and worse outcomes, particularly hearing loss and dizziness.

The study found a significant correlation between dizziness and inner ear hemorrhage, supporting prior research that links the presence of hemorrhage to a poorer prognosis in SSNHL.

"These findings emphasize the importance of MRI not only in identifying inner ear abnormalities but also in helping clinicians predict the disease course and tailor treatment strategies accordingly," the authors concluded.

Reference:

Min, S., Wang, J., Zhao, H., Chi, F., & Gao, N. (2025). MRI evidence of inner ear hemorrhage in prognostic assessment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss. American Journal of Otolaryngology, 104620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjoto.2025.104620