Electronystagmography profile in unilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss

ABSTRACT

Forty two patients with profound sensorineural hearing loss for more than 5 years were examined by electronystagmography [ENG] to evaluate their vestibular function. Their age range was 20 - 45 years. They had no complaint of imbalance and on examination there was no spontaneous nystagmus, no nystagmus on gaze or positional tests and they showed normal saccadic, smooth pursuit and optokinetic test results. Bithermal caloric test showed weaker response recorded from either ear of the study group when referenced to the normal subjects; however, fixation suppression index was normal. There was no significant unilateral weakness of the ear with hearing loss compared to the normal ear of the same subjects. These findings could be attributed to one of the compensation mechanisms, which suppress the normal ear and stimulate the affected ear