Inner Ear Abnormalities

Hearing loss that is seen in young adults and children can be derived from anatomic abnormalities of the inner ear. The most common of these is the enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome. What occurs is a progressive hearing loss that seems to be accented with either noise exposure or a traumatic blow to the head.

Diagnosis is made with a suggestive history as well as a CT exam of the inner ear. Treatment includes prevention of further hearing loss, ear protection, and hearing amplification. If hearing loss progresses beyond which benefit can be obtained with a hearing aid, a cochlear implant is an option.