Autoimmune inner ear disease in children.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the response to treatment of pediatric patients diagnosed with autoimmune inner ear disease.

PATIENTS: Seven children who presented with sensorineural hearing loss and were diagnosed with autoimmune inner ear disease.

INTERVENTION: Diagnosis through blood testing. Treatment with steroids and/or cytotoxic medication.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Improvement in pure-tone average and speech discrimination scores on audiometric testing.

RESULTS: Six of the 7 children (85.7%) improved with treatment, and the remaining patient had no measurable progression of disease.

CONCLUSION: Children with autoimmune inner ear disease seem to benefit from treatment with steroids and/or cytotoxic medication. Although such medications must be used with caution in the pediatric population, they should not be withheld simply because of young age.