- A patient with 90 percent auditory nerve loss in the right ear regained functional hearing within seven days at Vanya Clinic in Green Park, South Delhi.
- Dr. Purodha Prasad used endoscopic intratympanic injection therapy paired with hyperbaric oxygen therapy as the non-surgical protocol.
- Pure tone audiometry confirmed sudden sensorineural hearing loss, with initial thresholds at 80 to 100+ decibels hearing level.
- Follow-up audiograms showed thresholds improved to a range of 25 to 50 decibels hearing level after multiple sessions.
- The patient declined cochlear implantation due to financial constraints, making the medical protocol the only treatment route.
NEW DELHI, April 18, 2026. A patient with sudden sensorineural hearing loss regained functional hearing within seven days after non-surgical treatment at Vanya Clinic, Aesthetics & ENT in South Delhi, according to a press release issued by the clinic on April 18, 2026.
The case adds a clinical data point to the ongoing debate over treatment windows for sudden sensorineural hearing loss, known as SSNHL, a condition that can cause permanent hearing damage if therapy is delayed. The patient, a working driver from Saket, presented with near-total hearing loss in the right ear. Initial audiometry showed the auditory nerve had lost close to 90 percent of its function, per the clinic statement.
What happened in the case
The patient arrived at Vanya Clinic in Green Park after sudden, complete hearing loss in the right ear with no prior warning signs, the clinic said. Dr. Purodha Prasad, an MBBS, MS ENT specialist and founder of the clinic, performed a pure tone audiometry test that confirmed severe to profound SSNHL.
Hearing thresholds on the affected ear measured 80 to 100+ decibels hearing level, dB HL, on the initial test, according to the press release. Thresholds in that range indicate almost non-functional hearing. The patient’s occupation as a driver made the loss a direct threat to his ability to work.
Prasad classified the presentation as a medical emergency and began structured treatment without delay, the statement said. The treatment plan focused on preserving residual hearing and improving nerve function before considering surgical options.
The treatment protocol
Prasad administered endoscopic intratympanic injection therapy, a minimally invasive technique that delivers medication directly into the middle ear through the eardrum, the clinic said. The endoscopic approach allows targeted drug delivery to the inner ear structures without open surgery.
The protocol added hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunct to support nerve recovery and improve oxygen supply to the inner ear, per the press release. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves breathing 100 percent oxygen in a pressurized chamber, raising dissolved oxygen levels in the blood and tissues.
Prasad counselled the patient on cochlear implantation as a fallback option if medical management did not restore hearing, the statement said. The patient declined the implant due to cost, leaving the combined injection and oxygen protocol as the active treatment route.
The audiometry results
Follow-up audiometry after multiple sessions showed hearing thresholds in the right ear improved to approximately 25 to 50 dB HL, according to the clinic. That range falls within normal to mild hearing loss categories, depending on frequency.
The shift from 80 to 100+ dB HL down to 25 to 50 dB HL represents recovery from severe-to-profound loss back to a functional level. The press release reported the initial significant improvement was confirmed on a follow-up audiogram within seven days of the first treatment session.
What Prasad said about the case
“This was a challenging case of sudden Sensorineural Hearing loss where time and timely intervention played a very important role,” said Dr. Purodha Prasad, founder of Vanya Clinic, Aesthetics & ENT, in the press release. “The goal in this hearing loss case in Delhi was to save as much hearing as possible without surgery and to act within the critical treatment window.”
“I always tell my patients that in sudden hearing loss, delay can reduce recovery chances significantly, so early diagnosis and treatment are key,” Prasad said. “In this case, we were able to see a strong recovery within a week, which is very encouraging.”
Why the treatment window matters
SSNHL is defined as a hearing loss of 30 dB or more over three contiguous frequencies occurring within 72 hours. Published literature, including a 2024 study in Scientific Reports, has examined hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunct treatment for SSNHL, with particular interest in cases of severe to profound loss.
A 2018 JAMA Otolaryngology study reported that adding HBOT to standard medical therapy was a reasonable option for SSNHL patients with severe to profound hearing loss at presentation. The Vanya Clinic case fits that severity profile per the audiometry data the clinic released.
The clinic did not report the specific medication used in the intratympanic injections, the number of injection sessions, the HBOT pressure protocol, or the number of HBOT sessions. The press release also did not include independent audiology verification or peer review of the case.
About the clinic
Vanya Clinic, Aesthetics & ENT operates at F-14, Block F, Green Park Extension, New Delhi 110016. Prasad has 12+ years of clinical experience and performs ear surgeries including tympanoplasty, mastoidectomy, ossiculoplasty, stapedotomy, and endoscopic ear procedures, per the clinic profile.
The clinic listed phone contact 8448150908 in the press release for appointments. PTI distributed the release under an arrangement with PNN and stated it took no editorial responsibility for the content.
What happens next
The clinic did not announce further patient follow-up timelines or publication of the case in a peer-reviewed journal. Continued audiometry over six to 12 months would establish whether the recovery holds, which is the standard follow-up window cited in SSNHL outcome literature.
References
- PTI News, Dr. Purodha Prasad, ENT Specialist in Delhi Restores Sudden Hearing Loss in Patient Within 7 Days, April 20, 2026, https://www.ptinews.com/press-release/dr-purodha-prasad-ent-specialist-in-delhi-restores-sudden-hearing-loss-in-patient-within-7-days/3583426
- JAMA Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Addition of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy vs Medical Therapy Alone for Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss, 2018, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/fullarticle/2704029
- Scientific Reports (Nature), The therapeutic effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss, 2024, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-53978-1
