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[Binaural asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss in audiological practice]
Andrzej Obrebowski1, Bozena Wiskirska-Woźnica, Hanna Czerniejewska
1Katedra i Klinika Foniatrii i Audiologii Uniwersytetu Medycznego im, Karola Marcinkowskiego w Poznaniu. aobrebow@ump.edu.pl
Otolaryngologia Polska = the Polish Otolaryngology
|February 10, 2011
Summary
Binaural asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss affects 3.9% of patients. This hearing condition, diagnosed using pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and auditory brainstem response (ABR), may require MRI and hearing aid fitting.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Otolaryngology
Context:
- Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a common auditory disorder.
- Binaural asymmetry in SNHL requires careful evaluation.
- The Department of Phoniatrics and Audiology manages patients with hearing impairments.
Purpose:
- To estimate the prevalence of binaural asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss in patients treated at the Department of Phoniatrics and Audiology.
- To classify the degree of hearing asymmetry using established criteria.
Summary:
- A retrospective analysis of 1816 patients hospitalized for hearing disorders in 2008 was conducted.
- Binaural asymmetric SNHL was identified in 70 patients (3.9%).
- Hearing asymmetry was classified using Margolis and Saly criteria in pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) results for children. Inter-aural threshold differences ranged from 21 to 30 dB in 46 patients.
- 14% of these patients underwent MRI, revealing acoustic neurinoma in 2 cases (3%).
- Hearing aid fitting was performed for 44% of the 70 patients with asymmetric SNHL.
Impact:
- Highlights the prevalence of binaural asymmetric SNHL in a clinical population.
- Identifies the need for further investigation, including MRI, for certain cases.
- Indicates the proportion of patients benefiting from hearing aid interventions.
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