A Study of Aetiological Profile of Unilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Main Article Content

Prasenjit Gangopadhyay
Bipin Kishore Prasad

Abstract

Introduction: It is necessary to identify the aetiology of sudden sensorineural hearing loss for proper management. Despite advancement in the field of diagnostic radiology, immunochemistry and genetic studies, there are still many cases of USNHL where a definite cause cannot be identified. In this study, an attempt has been made to identify the aetiological factors responsible for unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (USNHL)..                               


Materials and Methods: Seventyfive patients with acquired unilateral sensorineural hearing loss without chronic otitis media were included in the study. Hearing was assessed by tuning fork test and pure tone audiometry. Special tests were done to differentiate between cochlear and retrocochlear pathology, to objectively assess hearing loss and to diagnose nonorganic hearing loss. Radio-imaging was done to diagnose skull bone fractures, space occupying lesions in internal auditory meatus and cerebellopontine angle or intracranial pathologies. Biochemical analysis of blood, immunoglobulin and serological assay were done to rule out specific causes.


Results: Majority of patients were within 21-30 years of age. 37 patients presented with sudden and remaining with progressive hearing loss. Majority (57.3%) were found to have idiopathic cochlear pathology. Amongst the remaining, there were 8 cases of acoustic trauma, 4 each of Meniere’s disease and cerebellopontine angle tumour and 3 each of Noise-induced hearing loss, labyrinthitis and Non-organic hearing loss. There were 2 cases of meningitis and 1 each of barotrauma, connective tissue disorder, iatrogenic trauma, fracture of petrous bone and cerebrovascular accident. 


Conclusion: Most of the studies have been done on sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Current study, including sudden and progressive cases, is hence an attempt to ascertain aetiological profile of unilateral SNHL.

Article Details

How to Cite
1.
Gangopadhyay P, Prasad BK. A Study of Aetiological Profile of Unilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss. BJOHNS [Internet]. 2019Apr.30 [cited 2024Nov.21];27(1):19-28. Available from: https://bjohns.in/journal3/index.php/bjohns/article/view/221
Section
Main article
Author Biographies

Prasenjit Gangopadhyay, Uttarpara State General hospital, Hooghly, West Bengal

Dept of ENT

ENT Specialist

Bipin Kishore Prasad, Command Hospital (Central Command) Lucknow

Dept of ENT

Prof (ENT)

References

Kuhn M, Heman-Ackah SE, Shaikh JA, Roehm PC. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a review of diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. Trends Amplif. 2011; 15 (3): 91-105

Kanjikar S, Doddamani A, Malige R, Reddy N. Audiometric analysis of type and degree of hearing impairment and its demographic correlation: A retrospective study. J Adv Clin Res Insights 2015; 2:189-92

Bansal D, Varshney S, Malhotra M, Joshi P, Kumar N. Unilateral sensorineural hearing loss: A retrospective study. Indian Journal of Otology 2016; 22 (4): 262-7

WHO Global Estimate on Prevalence of Hearing Loss, 2012

Sharma M, Singh P, Kapoor M, Goel M. Pattern of sensorineural hearing loss in patients attending ENT OPD. Int J Oral Health Med Res. 2015; 2: 5‑8

Narozny W, Kuczkowski J, Kot J, Stankiewicz C, Sicko Z, Mikaszewski B. Prognostic factors in sudden sensorineural hearing loss: our experience and a review of the literature. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2006; 115(7): 553-8

Edizer DT, Çelebi O, Hamit B, Baki A, Yiğit O. Recovery of Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss J Int Adv Otol. 2015; 11(2): 122-6

Saeki N, Kitahar M. Assessment of prognosis in sudden deafness. Acta Otolaryngol Suppl. 1994; 510: 56-61

Mamak A, Yilmaz S, Cansiz H, Inci E, Güçlü E, Dereköylü L. A study of prognostic factors in sudden hearing loss. Ear Nose Throat J 2005; 84: 641-4

Robert L, Swallow C, Shelton C, Davidson H, Christian E, Chris SE, Harnsberger HR. Causes of unilateral sensorineural hearing loss screened by high resolution fast spin echo Magnetic Resonance Imaging: review of 1070 consecutive cases. Am J Otol. 2000; 21(2): 173-80

Weng SF, Chen YS, Hsu CJ, Tseng FY. Clinical features of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in diabetic patients. Laryngoscope 2005; 115(9): 1676-80

Cadoni G, Agostino S, Scipione S, Ippolito S, Caselli A, Marchese R et al. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss: our experience in diagnosis, treatment and outcome. J Otolaryngol. 2005; 34(6): 395-401

Usami S, Kitoh R, Moteki H, Nishio S, Kitano T, Kobayashi M et al. Etiology of single-sided deafness and asymmetrical hearing loss. Acta Oto-Laryngologica 2017; 137: sup565, S2-S7, DOI: 10.1080/00016489.2017.1300321

Chau JK, Lin JR, Atashband S, Irvine RA, Westerberg BD. Systematic review of the evidence for the etiology of adult sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Laryngoscope 2010; 120(5): 1011-21

Fetterman BL, Saunders JE, Luxford WM. Prognosis and treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Am J Otol. 1996; 17(4): 529-36.