ABSTRACT

Recently, inner ear pathologies such as large vestibular aqueduct syndrome (LVAS) and semicircular canal dehiscence (SCDS) have been suggested as causes for conductive hearing loss.

In this study, vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) results were evaluated in patients with conductive hearing loss and the importance of VEMP in the differential diagnosis of middle and inner ear pathologies were determined.

A total of 270 ears (94 patients bilateral, 82 patients unilateral) with mixed hearing loss were included in the study. Two hundred and twelve ears had chronic otitis media (73 were cholesteatoma) where 58 tympanic membranes were intact; 42 patients were followed with the diagnosis of otosclerosis. VEMP was positive in one patient with chronic otitis media (dry, central perforation) and 3 patients with otosclerosis (7.1%). Computerized tomographic evaluation of these patients revealed bilateral LVAS in one patient and unilateral SCDS in three patients.

VEMP may prevent patients from unnecessary surgical interventions and may guide surgeons in deciding the appropiate surgical procedure in patients with conductive hearing loss. (JAREM 2013; 3: 24-7)

Keywords: Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, conductive hearing loss, semicircular canal dehiscence, large vestibular aquaduct