What do systematic reviews say?

Antibiotics vs placebo, no treatment or therapy of unproven effectiveness

Antibiotics may leads to higher adverse effects compared with placebo, no treatment or therapy of unproven effectiveness (low certainty).

• Antibiotics for otitis media with effusion in children 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 2.15 [1.29, 3.6]
  5 studies · 742 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions to improve hearing aid use in adult auditory rehabilitation 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Intervention not reported

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions to improve hearing aid use in adult auditory rehabilitation 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Corticosteroids vs placebo

• Corticosteroids for the treatment of idiopathic acute vestibular dysfunction (vestibular neuritis) 2011 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 73 participants
  Moderate

Intranasal steroid spray vs placebo or no intervention

• Interventions for the prevention of persistent post‐COVID‐19 olfactory dysfunction 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 77 participants
  Very low

Intranasal steroid drops vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for the prevention of persistent post‐COVID‐19 olfactory dysfunction 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

CBT vs audiological care (tinnitus education and rehabilitation

• Cognitive behavioural therapy for tinnitus 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 410 participants
  Moderate

CBT vs TRT (directive counselling and bilateral masking)

• Cognitive behavioural therapy for tinnitus 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 42 participants
  Low

CBT vs other experimental control

• Cognitive behavioural therapy for tinnitus 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  6 studies · 595 participants
  Low

CBT vs no treatment or waiting list

• Cognitive behavioural therapy for tinnitus 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  7 studies · 447 participants
  Moderate

Vestibular rehabilitation vs no treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Non‐pharmacological interventions for prophylaxis of vestibular migraine 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Intranasal steroid drops vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for the prevention of persistent post‐COVID‐19 olfactory dysfunction 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

CBT vs audiological care (tinnitus education and rehabilitation

• Cognitive behavioural therapy for tinnitus 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 410 participants
  Moderate

CBT vs TRT (directive counselling and bilateral masking)

CBT showed no clear difference in serious adverse effects compared with TRT (directive counselling and bilateral masking) (low certainty).

• Cognitive behavioural therapy for tinnitus 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.45 [0.04, 4.64]
  1 study · 42 participants
  Low

CBT vs other experimental control

CBT showed no clear difference in serious adverse effects compared with other experimental control (low certainty).

• Cognitive behavioural therapy for tinnitus 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.7 [0.16, 18.36]
  6 studies · 595 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Restriction of salt, caffeine and alcohol intake for the treatment of Ménière's disease or syndrome 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Topical antifungal vs placebo/no treatment

It is very uncertain whether topical antifungal changes adverse effects ‐ headache compared with placebo/no treatment (very low certainty).

• Topical and systemic antifungal therapy for chronic rhinosinusitis 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.26 [0.6, 2.63]
  Studies not reported
  Very low

Intranasal steroid spray vs control

Summary of findings: intranasal steroids showed no clear difference in adverse effects [3 months] compared with control (low certainty).

• Oral or topical nasal steroids for hearing loss associated with otitis media with effusion in children 2011 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.26 [0.8, 1.99]
  2 studies · 231 participants
  Low

Summary of findings: intranasal steroids plus oral antibiotic vs control plus antibiotic

• Oral or topical nasal steroids for hearing loss associated with otitis media with effusion in children 2011 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 59 participants
  GRADE not reported

Topical antifungal vs placebo/no treatment

Topical antifungal showed no clear difference in adverse effects ‐ epistaxis compared with placebo/no treatment (low certainty).

• Topical and systemic antifungal therapy for chronic rhinosinusitis 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.97 [0.14, 6.63]
  Studies not reported
  Low