Vestibular status in partial deafness

The hair cells of the cochlea and the vestibulum are closely connected and may be susceptible to the same noxious factors. The relationship between their function has been a continuing field of investigation. The indications for cochlear implantation have been broadened and now include the patients with partial deafness. This raises the question of their vestibular status.

The aim of the study was to investigate whether there is any difference between the vestibular function of patients with low frequency residual hearing and those with totally deaf ears.

A total of 360 ears with profound sensorineural hearing loss were analysed before cochlear implantation. The patients were divided into four groups, according to their low frequency residual hearing (Group 1 ‒ normal or slightly elevated low frequency residual hearing; Group 2 ‒ elevated threshold but still usable hearing at low frequencies; Group 3 - non-functional residual hearing; Group 4 ‒ no detectable hearing threshold within the limits of the audiometer). The patients underwent vestibular tests: cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential, ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential, caloric test and video-head impulse test.

The rates of elicited responses in cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential were as follows: in Group 1 (59.3 %); Group 2 (57.5 %); Group 3 (35.2 %); Group 4 (7.7 %). For ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential the percentage of correct outcomes was: Group 1 (70.8 %); Group 2 (56.0 %); Group 3 (40.0 %); Group 4 (14.3 %). For the caloric test we counted normal responses in 88.9 % of Group 1; 81.6 % of Group 2; 57.9 % of Group 3; 53.3 % of Group 4. For video-head impulse test we also found markedly better results in Group1, followed by Group 2, and much worse in Group 3 and 4.

Patients with partial deafness not only have a better cochlea but also better vestibular function, which needs to be protected. In summary, the better the low frequency residual hearing, the better the vestibular status.