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Audiological assessment in Ramsay Hunt syndrome
Antonis Kaberos1, Dimitrios G Balatsouras, Stavros G Korres
1Department of Otolaryngology, Tzanion General Hospital, Piraeus, Greece.
The Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology
|January 22, 2002
Summary
Ramsay Hunt syndrome often causes hearing loss and other auditory issues. This study found audiological abnormalities in most patients, indicating potential damage to the auditory pathway.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Neurology
- Audiology
Background:
- Ramsay Hunt syndrome can lead to vestibulocochlear dysfunction, including sensorineural hearing loss.
- Understanding the audiological impact is crucial for diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the audiological features in patients diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
- To identify specific patterns of auditory pathway involvement.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 15 patients with Ramsay Hunt syndrome underwent comprehensive audiological evaluations.
- Tests included auditory brain stem response (ABR) and transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE).
- Otolaryngological, neurologic examinations, and caloric tests were also performed.
Main Results:
- The majority of patients exhibited some degree of hearing loss.
- Abnormalities in ABR latencies and interpeak latencies, or wave absence, were frequently observed.
- Transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions were present in only 6 patients, and caloric tests revealed unilateral weakness in most.
Conclusions:
- Audiological data from Ramsay Hunt syndrome patients suggest cochlear, retrocochlear, or multi-site involvement along the auditory pathway.
- Abnormalities were consistently localized to the affected side of the auditory system.
- These findings highlight the significant audiological impact of Ramsay Hunt syndrome.