[ relation between maxillary constriction and hearing loss]

ABSTRACT

Maxillary constriction and high palatal vault can change the location of soft palate and may cause Eustachian tube dysfunction and even stenosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between maxillary constriction and conductive hearing loss. This case-control study included one hundred twenty patients whom were divided into two equal groups. The patients' ages ranged from 7 to 40 years. Hearing level was measured in all patients with a digital audiometer. The control group consisted of sixty participants with normal hearing level [under 15 db], wherease patients who had the hearing level of more than 15 db were the cases with conductive hearing loss. Then maxillary constriction was examined in both groups according to skeletal posterior cross bite and high palatal vault. These two groups were compared applying of chi-square test. This study showed that maxillary constriction was seen in 7 patients [11.7%] in control group and 19 patients [31.7%] in case group [P < 0/05]. People suffering from hearing loss were faced with maxillary constriction 3.5 times more than others. There is a significant relationship between maxillary constriction and conductive hearing loss. Thus, it is recommended that to prevent from hearing loss, maxillary constriction should be treated appropriately