Co-relation of audiometric configurations and auditory difficulties in adults with acquired sensori-neural hearing loss

Introduction: Hearing impairment is one of the most common handicapping problems in this country. There are millions of individuals in this country with varying degrees and types of hearing impairment including children, adults and elders. Hearing is important for speech and language development. Even minor degrees of hearing impairment, especially pre-lingual can affect overall development. Aim: To correlate the different audiogram configurations in adults with acquired sensori-neural hearing loss with the self reported auditory difficulties (which rules out biased reports). Materials and methods: The research design was exploratory and the sampling was purposive. The sampling selection was prospective. All the subjects we selected were according to the following criteria. Inclusion criteria were the patients selected should have minimum 3 years of sensori-neural hearing loss, age range was between 18 to 60 years, pure-tone average (500, 1000 and 2000 Hz) hearing loss was > 25 dB HL and ˂70 dB. Results: Audiogram Pattern wereFlat Pattern, Gradual Sloping, Sharply sloping, Precipitously sloping. Conclusion: Irrespective of audiogram configurations speech intelligibility in noise is most severely affected and discrimination of sound is least severely affected. The patients with similar looking audiograms had similar perception of auditory difficulties (Flat and gradual sloping patterns had similar difficulties. Trough/ saucer and notch also had similar auditory difficulties).

Vertebrobasilar Occlusion Presenting as Sudden Isolated Bilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Case Report

Isolated bilateral deafness is a rare but possible symptom of vertebrobasilar ischemia, primarily due to occlusion of the anterior inferior cerebellar arteries or their branch, the internal auditory artery. We reported on uncommon case of sudden bilateral sensorineural hearing loss without typical neurological symptoms resulting from vertebrobasilar ischemia. We performed the available examinations, including otoscopy, laboratory tests, and pure tone audiogram, however we were not able to identify the cause of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Brain magnetic resonance image showed the cerebellar infarction of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery territory. Brain magnetic resonance angiography showed bilateral vertebral and basilar artery occlusion. We suggest vertebrobasilar ischemia as a cause of sudden isolated deafness.

Vertebrobasilar Occlusion Presenting as Sudden Isolated Bilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Case Report

Isolated bilateral deafness is a rare but possible symptom of vertebrobasilar ischemia, primarily due to occlusion of the anterior inferior cerebellar arteries or their branch, the internal auditory artery. We reported on uncommon case of sudden bilateral sensorineural hearing loss without typical neurological symptoms resulting from vertebrobasilar ischemia. We performed the available examinations, including otoscopy, laboratory tests, and pure tone audiogram, however we were not able to identify the cause of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Brain magnetic resonance image showed the cerebellar infarction of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery territory. Brain magnetic resonance angiography showed bilateral vertebral and basilar artery occlusion. We suggest vertebrobasilar ischemia as a cause of sudden isolated deafness.

Clinical analysis of risk factors for sensorineural hearing loss in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after intensity-modulated radiotherapy / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Objective To investigate the risk factors for sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).Methods From January 2012 to January 2013,29 patients with histopathologically confirmed NPC who received radiotherapy alone or concurrent chemoradiotherapy were included in this study.All patients underwent hearing tests,including pure tone audiometry and acoustic immittance measurement,before and after the IMRT.The cochlear doses for each ear were also collected for analysis.A prospective analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between cochlear dose and SNHL in patients with NPC,and the effects of other factors,including time after radiotherapy,chemotherapy,T stage,and age,were also analyzed.Results Of the 58 ears studied,6(10％) had low-frequency SNHL,and 17 (29％) had highfrequency SNHL.There were significant differences in mean cochlear doses between the patients who developed SNHL after radiotherapy and those who did not (left ears:46.1 Gy vs.35.5 Gy,P =0.006;right ears:45.0 Gy vs.35.8 Gy,P =0.009).When the mean cochlear dose was less than 44 Gy,only 15％ (6/38) of ears had high-frequency SNHL.The invasion of skull base bone was also a significant risk factor for SNHL(P =0.047),but age,chemotherapy,and time after IMRT were not significant risk factors.Conclusions The mean cochlear dose and invasion of skull base bone are significant risk factors for SNHL in patients with NPC after radiotherapy.It is recommended that the mean cochlear dose should be limited to 44 Gy to minimize the incidence of SNHL after IMRT.