Correlation between oral zinc sulfate supplementation and auditory recovery in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is an otologic emergency with limited treatment options. This study evaluated the efficacy of oral zinc sulfate supplementation, alongside conventional dexamethasone treatment, on auditory recovery in SSNHL patients. A retrospective cohort study included 230 SSNHL patients treated between June 2021 and June 2023. Patients received either conventional treatment (intravenous dexamethasone, n=102) or oral zinc sulfate in addition to conventional treatment (n=128). Audiological parameters, serum zinc levels, and quality of life (SF-36) were assessed at baseline and after two weeks. The data was analyzed using SPSS 22.0 software and the R software package version 3.0.2. Baseline characteristics and audio logical parameters were comparable between groups. The zinc sulfate group showed significant improvements in pure tone thresholds at 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz and 2000 Hz, as well as speech discrimination scores, compared to the conventional treatment group (p<0.05 for all). Serum zinc levels increased significantly in the zinc sulfate group (p<0.001). Quality of life, both physical and mental health scores, significantly improved in the zinc sulfate group (p<0.05). Oral zinc sulfate supplementation, as an adjunct to conventional dexamethasone treatment, significantly enhances audiological recovery, elevates serum zinc levels and improves quality of life in SSNHL patients. Zinc sulfate shows promise as an adjunctive treatment for SSNHL.