Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss Occurring after Blunt Head Trauma

ABSTRACT

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) due to blunt head trauma is a rare condition. Possible causes of SNHL by head trauma include cellular injury, perilymphatic fistula, labyrinthine concussion due to microfracture in inner ear and blunt trauma with simultaneous acute labyrithitis. We report here on two unusual cases in which cochleovestibular functions were totally damaged in patients with sudden SNHL due to blunt head trauma. Both cases presented with vertigo, tinnitus and a sudden onset of hearing impairment in the unilateral ear after blunt trauma. Audiograms revealed a profound to severe unilateral SNHL. Caloric testing revealed a decreased caloric response of 100% in the ipsilateral side compared to the contralateral side. Vestibular evoked myogenic potential testing revealed no response in the ipsilateral ear. Neither patient recovered hearing despite oral and/or intratympanic steroid therapy.