Sudden deafness is defined as an abrupt onset of sensorineural hearing loss without definite cause. Various medications, such as steroids, vasodilators or diatrizoate meglumine(Hypaque), have been suggested as treatment models for sudden deafness. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of the diatrizoate meglumine versus steroids on 49 patients(54 ears) with sudden deafness. Fifty-four ears were divided into the diatrizoate meglumine-treated group(18 ears), steroid-treated group(30 ears), and control group(6 ears). The recovery rates were 56%, 53%, and 67% in diatrizoate meglumine-treated, steroid-treated, and control groups, respectively. In summary, there was no significant difference between diatrizoate meglumine and steroids in their treatment efficacy on sudden deafness(p>.05).