Migraine Features in Patients with Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Sunday, October 12, 2025

1:42 PM - 1:48 PM EDT

Location: 244

Disclosure(s):

Yalda Yazdani, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Ella J. Lee, BS:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of migraine features in a cohort of patients diagnosed with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL).

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on patients presenting with SSNHL to a neurotology clinic at a tertiary academic center over an 18-month period. Comprehensive questionnaires addressing migraine symptoms and SSNHL were administered. SSNHL diagnosis was confirmed through clinical history, physical examination, and audiometry. The prevalence and characteristics of migraine headache (MH) were assessed using the International Headache Society (IHS) classification criteria.

Results: The study included 168 SSNHL patients, with a mean age of 55±12 and a female predominance (76%). 77 patients (46%) met all five IHS criteria for MH. Among patients who did not meet full criteria, 15 patients (16%) met four of the five criteria, and 24 patients (26%) met three. Univariate analyses revealed significant difference in prevalence of external stimuli sensitivity (55.8% vs. 5.5%, p< 0.001), bilateral hearing loss (29.9% vs. 11%, p=0.002), ice cream headache (54.5% vs. 38.5%, p=0.03), nausea/vomiting during headache (50.6% vs. 29.7, p=0.006), family history of migraine (26% vs. 9.9%, p=0.006), and ear pain (42.9% vs. 24.2%, p=0.01) between patients who fulfilled the migraine criteria (MH cohort) versus those who did not (non-MH cohort). After regression analysis, the difference was still significant in sensitivity to external stimuli (OR:20, 95% CI: 6-63), and family history of migraine (OR:1.9, 95% CI:1.06-11).

Conclusions: These findings reveal a high prevalence of migraine headache among patients with SSNHL and a substantial proportion of non-migraine patients who meet most of the migraine diagnostic criteria. This suggests a potential pathological association between SSNHL and migraine. These results support the hypothesis that sudden hearing loss may be a manifestation of otologic migraine, where migraine symptoms primarily present as cochleovestibular dysfunction.

Presenting Author(s)

YY

Yalda Yazdani, MD

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
University of California, Irvine
Orange, CA, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
EL

Ella J. Lee, BS

Medical Student
University of California, Irvine
North Chicago, IL, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Co-Author(s)

AF

Amanda Francis, BA

University of California, Irvine, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
SN

Saharnaz Nedjat, MD, PhD

University of California, Irvine, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
Mehdi Abouzari, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor
University of California, Irvine
Orange, California, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Senior Author(s)

HD

Hamid R. Djalilian, MD

Professor of Otolaryngology, Neurosurgery, and Biomedical Engineering, Director of Division of Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, CA, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.