title: Idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss in the only hearing ear.
abstract: A retrospective chart review was used for 31 patients with sudden, progressive or fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss (SHL) in the only hearing ear who had been consecutively evaluated at the ENT, Audiology and Phoniatrics Unit of the University of Pisa. The group of patients was evaluated with a complete history review, clinical evaluation, imaging exam (MRI, CT), audiologic tests (tone and speech audiometry, tympanometry, study of stapedial reflexes, ABR and otoacoustic emission) evaluation. In order to exclude genetic causes, patients were screened for CX 26 and CX30 mutations and for mitochondrial DNA mutation A1555G. Patients with sudden or rapidly progressive SHL in the only hearing ear were treated with osmotic diuretics and corticosteroids. In patients who did not respond to intravenous therapy we performed intratympanic injections of corticosteroid. Hearing aids were fitted when indicated and patients who developed severe to profound SHL were scheduled for cochlear implant surgery. The aim of this study is to report and discuss the epidemiology, aetiopathogenesis, therapy and clinical characteristic of patients affected by SHL in the only hearing hear and to discuss the issues related to the cochlear implant procedure in some of these patients, with regard to indications, choice of the ear to implant and results.
authors.affiliation: ENT, Audiology and Phoniatrics Universitary Unit of "Azienda Universitaria Ospedaliera Pisana" Pisa, Italy;|Guest Professor at Division of ENT Diseases, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berrettini
authors.affiliation: ENT, Audiology and Phoniatrics Universitary Unit of "Azienda Universitaria Ospedaliera Pisana" Pisa, Italy;
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Vito
authors.affiliation: ENT, Audiology and Phoniatrics Universitary Unit of "Azienda Universitaria Ospedaliera Pisana" Pisa, Italy;
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bruschini
authors.affiliation: ENT, Audiology and Phoniatrics Universitary Unit of "Azienda Universitaria Ospedaliera Pisana" Pisa, Italy;
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fortunato
authors.affiliation: ENT, Audiology and Phoniatrics Universitary Unit of "Azienda Universitaria Ospedaliera Pisana" Pisa, Italy;
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Forli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cochlear implant; Only hearing ear; Progressive sensorineural hearing loss; Sensorineural hearing loss