Hearing thresholds
Audiograms allow the treating team to compare hearing before and after treatment.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss
Sudden hearing loss needs urgent medical or ENT assessment. If it occurs with new weakness, facial droop, or speech difficulty, call 911.
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss research & care · Scottsdale & Glendale, AZ
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss
A sudden change in hearing deserves prompt attention. Early specialist assessment helps preserve time-sensitive treatment options.
RX-O2 offers a physician-led conversation about the evidence, your diagnosis, and the role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in your broader care plan. Our Scottsdale and Glendale teams serve patients across the Phoenix area.
Controlled research supports improved hearing outcomes when HBOT is added to steroid treatment in selected sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Timing and coordination with an ENT specialist are central. Explore the evidence below.
Physician-led care in Scottsdale and Glendale, serving the Phoenix area.
Physician-ledIndividual assessment and treatment planning
FDA-cleared chambersMedical hard-shell hyperbaric equipment
100% medical oxygenDelivered through a mask or hood
NHSA-certified techniciansPreparation, monitoring, and communication
The starting point
Confirm the type of hearing loss promptly
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss involves the inner ear or hearing nerve pathways. It differs from hearing changes caused by wax or fluid, and a clinician needs to distinguish these promptly.
An audiogram and ENT assessment help confirm the diagnosis and guide treatment. HBOT is considered as an adjunct to steroid therapy in selected cases, not a reason to delay established treatment.
The clinical context matters. The AAO-HNS guideline describes HBOT with steroids as an option within two weeks of onset, or as salvage treatment within one month. These windows support urgent assessment, not a reason to wait.
Connect the research to your goals
What matters in daily life?
Communication
Discuss how the change affects conversation, work, and daily activities.
Timely coordination
Share symptom-onset dates and ENT recommendations so treatment options can be reviewed promptly.
Your goals help shape the conversation and provide a useful way to follow progress if treatment is prescribed.
Explore the evidence
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss & HBOT research
Explore the findings behind the conversation. These selected publications highlight reported benefits, the patients studied, and the questions researchers are still working to answer.
Literature checked
October 20, 2026
2025 · Systematic review and meta-analysis
A 2025 review supported combined treatment
Newth A, et al. Diving and hyperbaric medicine. 12/20/2025.
Read the publicationA systematic review of seven trials reported better hearing outcomes with HBOT plus steroids than steroids alone in the pooled analyses. The evidence supports a meaningful adjunctive option for selected patients.
How to interpret it: The size of improvement varied and estimates were imprecise. The evidence does not guarantee full hearing restoration.
2019 · Clinical practice guideline
Specialist guidance emphasizes early treatment
American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. 2019.
Read the publicationThe guideline allows clinicians to offer HBOT combined with steroids within two weeks of onset, or as salvage treatment within one month of onset.
How to interpret it: This is an option for individualized decision-making, not a requirement for every patient. An ENT specialist should guide diagnosis, steroid treatment, and referral.
What this means for your decision
The comparative research and specialist guideline provide a strong reason to discuss timely adjunctive HBOT when the diagnosis fits. Your ENT and hyperbaric teams can review the audiogram, timing, treatment already started, and practical availability.
Plan with your care team
Coordinate promptly with your ENT specialist
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Share the relevant records
Bring the exact onset date, audiogram, ENT assessment, steroid treatment details, and referral information.
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Agree on the purpose of treatment
Review the evidence with your treating specialist and hyperbaric clinician. Identify specific outcomes to follow, the alternatives, and the reasons HBOT may or may not be appropriate.
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Set reassessment points
If treatment is prescribed, discuss the schedule, travel, costs, safety screening, and how progress will be reviewed. A published study schedule does not determine an individual prescription.
Your consultation is an opportunity to ask about expected benefits, treatment experience, scheduling, costs, and follow-up. We review suitability with you and coordinate with your treating clinicians when appropriate.
The RX-O2 difference
A team and setting you can get to know
Medical oversight from the start
Medical Director Marvin A. Borsand, DO, FACOS, FACCS, HCC, leads clinical oversight. A licensed medical provider reviews suitability and prescribes treatment when appropriate.
Medical hyperbaric equipment
Our clinics use FDA-cleared hard-shell chambers. You breathe 100% medical oxygen through a mask or hood while the chamber is pressurized with air.
Preparation and communication
NHSA-certified hyperbaric technicians explain the visit and monitor treatment. Tell us about ear pressure, positioning, mobility, or confinement concerns before you arrive.
Before your visit
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss FAQs
How quickly should I seek help?
Seek urgent medical or ENT assessment for a sudden hearing change. Do not wait for a routine appointment, especially if it started within the past few days.
Can HBOT replace steroids?
The evidence discussed here concerns HBOT combined with steroids. Your ENT clinician should direct medication choices and timing.
Will my hearing return completely?
Some patients improve, but complete recovery is not assured. Baseline hearing loss, timing, and other clinical factors influence outcomes.
Where can I discuss this research near Phoenix?
RX-O2 has clinics in Scottsdale and Glendale. Bring your records or ask your provider to send a referral so that the team can review your circumstances and explain whether an outpatient consultation is appropriate.
Local care, two Valley locations
Explore HBOT in Scottsdale or Glendale
Looking for a hyperbaric consultation near Phoenix? RX-O2 offers two locations for patients across the Valley. Call the clinic closest to you for appointment availability and help planning repeat visits.
RX-O2 Scottsdale
9035 E Pima Center Parkway #11Scottsdale, AZ 85258
An East Valley option for patients in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, and nearby communities.
RX-O2 Glendale
5626 N 51st AvenueGlendale, AZ 85301
A West Valley option for patients in Glendale, Peoria, Phoenix, and nearby communities.
Coordinate a timely specialist referral
Seek urgent ENT assessment first. Ask your specialist to contact RX-O2 about suitability and availability for adjunctive HBOT.
Sources & further reading
- Newth A, et al. Diving and hyperbaric medicine. 12/20/2025. A 2025 review supported combined treatment.
- American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. 2019. Updated clinical practice guideline: sudden hearing loss.
Browse the complete HBOT research library · Learn how HBOT works
Selected research checked October 20, 2026. Evidence continues to evolve. This educational overview supports a conversation with your treating clinician; individual results vary.
Read HBOT safety and treatment FAQs. Discuss treatment risks, medicines, implants, and relevant medical history with your clinician. Equipment clearance does not establish effectiveness for every condition.