The SeaSHeL national prospective cohort study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Prognostic factors for outcomes of idiopathic Sudden onset Sensorineural Hearing Loss: the SeaSHeL national prospective cohort study
IRAS ID
258494
Contact name
Anne Schilder
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College of London Hospital Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 7 months, 1 days
Research summary
Each year, approximately 15,000 people in the United Kingdom experience sudden loss of hearing. Of those who present to the NHS, the cause is unknown in most cases despite investigation, and these cases are termed idiopathic ‘sudden onset sensorineural hearing loss’ (SSNHL). Treatment options for idiopathic SSNHL mainly include steroid treatments and their efficacy is not well known.
There are a number of new treatments being developed for SSNHL based upon recent discoveries regarding factors causing the condition. These treatments require rigorous testing in clinical trials before they can become available for clinical use. To allow for such trials to be run there is an urgent need for information on patient numbers and characteristics, geographical distribution, patient and treatment pathways, as well as outcomes. There is an urgent need to understand this patient population to help develop new treatments.
We will record routinely collected information of patients presenting with SSNHL (including: patient characteristics, treatment received, hearing levels). This will take place at 97 National Health Services (NHS) sites across the country with Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) and Audiology services. 20 of these sites will also collect quality of life information via questionnaires.
Once the data has been collected, it will be analysed to:
1) Establish the patient pathway for patients presenting with SSNHL in the NHS
2) Develop a tool that will help predict recovery for patients with SSNHL.
3) Establish the impact of SSNHL on people’s quality of life.REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NW/0556
Date of REC Opinion
5 Sep 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion