title: Evaluation of the Vestibular System and Etiology in Children with Unilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the vestibular system of children with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (USNHL), investigate the etiological factors of USNHL and analyze whether a genetic predisposition exists.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three children aged less than 18 years with USNHL, who visited the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) department between January 2004 and December 2012, were included in this study. Cases with conductive hearing loss were excluded from the study. The patients were subjected to etiologic, genetic, and ophthalmologic evaluation; radiologic imaging; electronystagmography (ENG); and vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) tests. The control group, which included 25 healthy children (13 males and 12 females), had undergone audiological assessment and were subjected to ENG and VEMP tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the patients had severe-to-profound hearing loss. Mumps immunoglobulin G was positive in 22 (66.7%) of 33 patients. The 35delG mutation was not found in any of the patients. All of the patients underwent temporal computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Inner ear anomaly was present in 51.5% of the patients. Overall, 21 of 31 ENG patients had canal paresis in the affected ear. The VEMP response was absent on the affected side in three patients. The n23 latency average of the patient group was longer than that of the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because USNHL causes irreversible problems in children, early diagnosis and auditory rehabilitation are very important. As USNHL is accompanied by inner ear anomaly, children with USNHL should undergo temporal bone CT and MRI. To evaluate the vestibular system, ENG and VEMP are non-invasive and diagnostic tests.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yunus Emre State Hospital, Eskişehir, Turkey. lemanvezir@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Leman
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Birdane
authors.forename: Armağan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: İncesulu
authors.forename: Erkan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Özüdoğru
authors.forename: Cemal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cingi
authors.forename: Hamdi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Caklı
authors.forename: Melek Kezban
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Gürbüz
authors.forename: Baki
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Adapınar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D046088:Hearing Loss, Unilateral / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D058585:Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000503:physiopathology*