[Bilateral progressive sensorineural hearing loss of unknown aetiology].
Bilateral progressive sensorineural hearing loss of unknown aetiology is diagnosed very rarely. Prognosis of hearing recovery is poor and results of treatment unsatisfactory. The disease occurs in teenagers and in elderly patients.


METHODS
Total hearing loss developed in 81-years old female patient over the period of 2 months, despite intensive pharmacological treatment. No reason for the condition was established and diagnosis of bilateral progressive sensorineural hearing loss of unknown aetiology was established.


RESULTS
Click evoked otoacoustic emissions and distortion products of otoacoustic emissions disclosed cochlear pathology. Click evoked auditory brainstem responses were absent.


CONCLUSIONS
Audiological results obtained in the discussed patient and also relatively isolated onset of deafness as well as the severity and persistence of the hearing loss suggest that bilateral progressive sensorineural hearing loss of unknown aetiology is most probably related to prominent hypoperfusion of the internal auditory artery.
Zagólski
Olaf
O
Specjalistyczne Centrum Diagnostyczno-Zabiegowe Medicina w Krakowie. olafzag@poczta.onet.pl
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006312:Hearing Loss, Bilateral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans