Patients
From January 2013 to October 2018,patients were admitted after being diagnosed with SSNHL and randomly divided into two groups. Inclusion criteria: 1. Initial onset of unilateral SSNHL within 72 hours; 2. Hearing loss of 30 dB or greater for three consecutive frequencies by PTA (0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 kHz); 3. At least 18 years old but younger than 65 years; and 4. Patient consent. Exclusion criteria: 1. Unmanaged serious systemic diseases, diabetes or hypertension; epilepsy; psychosis; active ulcer of the digestive tract; or any contraindications for hormone therapy; 2. Identifiable aetiology for hearing loss, such as radiation, noise, acute or chronic otitis media, Meniere’s disease, autoimmune diseases, large vestibular aqueduct syndrome, and retrocochlear disease.