Auditory dysfunction with facial paralysis.
A series of 58 patients with idiopathic facial paralysis were studied to determine if a concomitant cochlear or eight nerve auditory dysfunction could be identified with traditional audiologic tests. Results indicated that only those patients with a facial nerve lesion, proximal to the stapedius branch, experienced reduced tolerance for loud sounds, reduction of speech discrimination at high-intensity levels, and abnormal loudness growth. Such findings suggest that changes in auditory function, accompanying facial nerve paralysis, are a mechanical effect due to absence of stapedial action. Site of lesion tests in this sample failed to demonstrate eighth nerve dysfunction and, thus, does not support a theory of polyneuropathy that involves the auditory nerve.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001299:Audiometry / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D012001:Hyperacusis; D008144:Loudness Perception / Q000502:physiology; D012000:Recruitment Detection, Audiologic; D013063:Speech Discrimination Tests; D013067:Speech Perception; D013069:Speech Reception Threshold Test; D013198:Stapedius / Q000503:physiopathology