Vestibular mapping assessment in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Neuroscience
• Vestibular System Research

Background:

• Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is a complex condition affecting hearing and balance.
• Understanding vestibular end organ involvement is crucial for predicting prognosis and guiding treatment in ISSNHL.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate patterns of semicircular canal (SCC) and otolith organ dysfunction using vestibular mapping in ISSNHL patients.
• To determine the clinical implications of these dysfunctions on treatment outcomes and hearing recovery.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 135 ISSNHL patients.
• Utilized video-head impulse tests (vHIT) for SCCs, vestibular-evoked myogenic potential tests for saccules and utricles, and hearing tests.
• Applied vestibular mapping, hierarchical cluster analysis, and multivariate analysis to assess outcomes and prognosis.

Main Results:

• Utricular impairment (56.3%) was the most common dysfunction, followed by saccular (43.7%) and posterior SCC (22.2%) impairment.
• Higher initial hearing loss and abnormal posterior SCC vHIT results were associated with poor prognosis.
• Hierarchical clustering revealed distinct groupings for SCCs and otolith organs, indicating varied dysfunction patterns.

Conclusions:

• Vestibular end organ dysfunction presents diverse patterns in ISSNHL.
• Only posterior SCC abnormalities were significantly associated with poor hearing recovery prognosis in ISSNHL.