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Updated: Dec 9, 2025

Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
Topography of the lesion in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss
Ayse Pelin Yigider1, Mehmet Keskin2, Levent Kufeciler3
1Istanbul Research and Training Hospital, Otorhinolaryngology Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey.
Introduction:
Etiology of ISSNHL includes cessation of vascular perfusion, viral infection and cochlear membrane injury. Precise location of injury should be defined for a target-oriented treatment. Vestibular complaints in ISSNHL are hypothesized as involvement of vestibule. Vestibular complaints can be either due to involvement of inner ear or neural tract at any level.
Objectives:
In the present study we aimed to demonstrate involvement of vestibular organs in the absence of vestibular symptoms. It was aimed to evaluate superior and inferior vestibular neural pathways.
Methods:
c-vemp and o-vemp were applied to patients suffering ISSNHL without vertigo. Pure tone averages, audiogram configurations, degree of hearing loss were analyzed. Latencies of P1 and N1 waves, amplitudes of P1-N1 waves were evaluated. Asymmetrical vemp wave patterns were compared between two ears regarding difference of PTA.
Results:
Latencies of c-vemp waves were longer and amplitudes were smaller. o-vemp parameters were similar on both sides. Positive correlation was observed between c-vemp latencies and degree hearing loss.
Conclusion:
Inferior vestibular nerve pathway is affected in the absence of vertigo in ISSNHL with spared superior vestibular nerve pathway. Damage in IVN pathway correlates with degree of ISSNHL.
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