Vestibular schwannoma presenting as sudden deafness

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Otolaryngology
• Audiology

Background:

• Vestibular schwannoma, a benign tumor of the vestibulocochlear nerve, can present with sudden deafness.
• Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a critical symptom requiring prompt evaluation.
• Understanding the factors influencing hearing recovery in SSNHL associated with vestibular schwannoma is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the clinical and audiological features of vestibular schwannoma patients with sudden deafness.
• To evaluate the relationship between prognostic factors and hearing loss outcomes.
• To investigate the role of tumor size, pure-tone average (PTA), dizziness, and auditory brain stem response (ABR) in hearing recovery.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 24 patients with vestibular schwannoma and sudden deafness presenting within 10 days of onset.
• Assessment of pure-tone average (PTA), presence of dizziness/vertigo, tumor size, and auditory brain stem response (ABR) findings.
• Correlation of these features with hearing loss prognosis and recovery.

Main Results:

• Hearing recovery was dependent on PTA and tumor size.
• Even small vestibular schwannomas could induce sudden deafness.
• Complete hearing recovery occurred in 5 out of 24 patients.
• ABR findings suggested diverse etiologies for sudden deafness in this patient cohort.

Conclusions:

• Prognosis for hearing loss in vestibular schwannoma-associated sudden deafness is influenced by PTA and tumor size.
• Vestibular schwannoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of SSNHL, regardless of tumor size.
• The varied ABR findings highlight the need for individualized assessment and treatment strategies.