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Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss in large vestibular aqueduct syndrome
H Shilton1, M Hodgson2, G Burgess3
1Department of Surgery, Southern Health, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Insights
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) shows promise for treating sudden hearing loss in children with large vestibular aqueduct syndrome after head trauma. This Australian case highlights HBOT as a potentially beneficial and well-tolerated intervention.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Neurology
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Large vestibular aqueduct syndrome (LVAS) is a congenital condition predisposing children to hearing loss.
- Head trauma can precipitate sudden, significant hearing loss in individuals with LVAS.
- Acute sensorineural hearing loss in this context often leads to irreversible auditory deficits.
Observation:
- A 12-year-old boy with LVAS experienced significant hearing loss post-head trauma.
- The patient was treated with corticosteroids and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).
- Audiography revealed substantial improvement in hearing thresholds following treatment.
Findings:
- This case marks the first reported use of HBOT for SSNHL in a child with LVAS in Australia.
- The treatment was well-tolerated by the pediatric patient.
- The findings suggest HBOT may be a beneficial therapeutic option for this rare condition.
Implications:
- HBOT may offer a viable treatment for acute hearing loss in pediatric patients with LVAS.
- Further research into HBOT for SSNHL in LVAS is warranted.
- This approach could potentially alter the natural course of hearing loss in affected children.
Introduction:
We report the first use in Australia of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for sudden hearing loss following head trauma in a child with large vestibular aqueduct syndrome.
Case Report:
A 12-year-old boy with large vestibular aqueduct syndrome presented with significant hearing loss following head trauma. He was treated with steroids and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, with good improvement of hearing thresholds on audiography. This case represents the first reported use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for this indication in Australia, following a few previous reports of patients in Japan. We review the literature on management of acute sensorineural hearing loss in large vestibular aqueduct syndrome. The reported case demonstrates a potentially beneficial therapy for a rare condition that usually results in an inevitable decline in hearing.
Conclusion:
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be tolerated well by children, and may represent a potential treatment for sudden sensorineural hearing loss in patients with large vestibular aqueduct syndrome.
