To Evaluate the Pre and Post Shunt Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Hydrocephalus Patients

Hydrocephalus means watery head and defined as disturbance of formation, flow, or absorption of cerebrospinal fluid. The clinical presentation of hydrocephalus includes hearing loss especially sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting is the most commonly performed procedure in these patients. Pure tone audiogram, impedence and BAEPs, were done for preoperative hearing assessment in 20 hydrocephalus patients. Out of 20 patients, 12 cases (60%) had SNHL while, rest 8 (40%) patients had mixed hearing loss. Post VP shunting hearing improvement was observed in 14 patients (70%) whereas it worsened in 30% of patients. The result is even better if shunt is placed at early age.