Acupuncture and Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Review

1975 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 427-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harvey A. Taub

Recent reports concerning the use of acupuncture as a possible treatment for sensorineural hearing impairment were reviewed and evaluated. It was concluded that acupuncture has no effect upon the hearing ability of individuals with sensorineural losses. Further, it was suggested that subjective feelings of improvement represent a placebo effect resulting from the application of a treatment that patients believe might work and not from acupuncture itself.

2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Berrettini ◽  
Francesca Forli ◽  
Susanna Passetti ◽  
Anna Rocchi ◽  
Luca Pollina ◽  
...  

Over the last decade, a number of distinct mutations in the mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA) have been found to be associated with both syndromic and non-syndromic forms of hearing impairment. Their real incidence as a cause of deafness is poorly understood and generally underestimated. Among the known mtDNA mutations, the A1555G mutation in the 12S gene has been identified to be one of the most common genetic cause of deafness, and it has been described to be both associated to non-syndromic progressive SNHL (sensorineural hearing loss) and to aminoglycoside-induced SNHL. In the present study, we have investigated the presence of mtDNA alterations in patients affected by idiopathic non-syndromic SNHL, both familiar and sporadic, in order to evaluate the frequency of mtDNA alterations as a cause of deafness and to describe the audiological manifestations of mitochondrial non-syndromic SNHL. In agreement with previous studies, we found the A1555G mutation to be responsible for a relevant percentage (5.4%) of cases affected with isolated idiopathic sensorineural hearing impairment.


1981 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 258-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine W. Campbell ◽  
Robert C. Polomeno ◽  
John M. Elder ◽  
Jane Murray ◽  
Anne Altosaar

The medical records of 84 children with severe-to-profound bilateral congenital sensorineural hearing loss were reviewed. Records of an eye examination were available for 64 children. In 5 patients (8% of those examined), an eye examination confirmed a previously suspected cause of deafness, and in another 5 children (8%), a diagnosis that had not been suspected was made. Congenital syndromes caused by environmental or hereditary factors, which involve sensorineural hearing impairment and abnormal eye findings, are reviewed. The importance of an eye examination for all children with congenital sensorineural hearing impairment is stressed.


2012 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 1267-1273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Pollak ◽  
Malgorzata Mueller-Malesinska ◽  
Urszula Lechowicz ◽  
Agata Skorka ◽  
Lech Korniszewski ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
pp. 112067211987939
Author(s):  
Fabiana D’Esposito ◽  
Viviana Randazzo ◽  
Gilda Cennamo ◽  
Nicola Centore ◽  
Paolo Enrico Maltese ◽  
...  

Purpose: Usher syndrome (USH) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by congenital sensorineural hearing impairment and retinitis pigmentosa. Classification distinguishes three clinical types of which type I (USH1) is the most severe, with vestibular dysfunction as an added feature. To date, 15 genes and 3 loci have been identified with the USH1G gene being an uncommon cause of USH. We describe an atypical USH1G-related phenotype caused by a novel homozygous missense variation in a patient with profound hearing impairment and relatively mild retinitis pigmentosa, but no vestibular dysfunction. Methods: A 26-year-old female patient with profound congenital sensorineural hearing loss, nyctalopia and retinitis pigmentosa was studied. Audiometric, vestibular and ophthalmologic examination was performed. A panel of 13 genes was tested by next-generation sequencing (NGS). Results: While the hearing loss was confirmed to be profound, the vestibular function resulted normal. Although typical retinitis pigmentosa was present, the age at onset was unusually late for USH1 syndrome. A novel homozygous missense variation (c.1187T>A, p.Leu396Gln) in the USH1G gene has been identified as causing the disease in our patient. Conclusions: Genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity are very common in both isolated and syndromic retinal dystrophies and sensorineural hearing loss. Our findings widen the spectrum of USH allelic disorders and strength the concept that variants in genes that are classically known as underlying one specific clinical USH subtype might result in unexpected phenotypes.


1978 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 668-681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Candace Kamm ◽  
Donald D. Dirks ◽  
Max R. Mickey

A simple up-down adaptive procedure was used to estimate the 50% point on the psychometric function for loudness discomfort level (LDL) and the two functions describing the range of most comfortable loudness (MCL) for listeners with sensorineural hearing impairment. For pure tone and speech stimuli, median LDL and MCL levels were observed at relatively constant SPLs for subjects with hearing loss ≤ 50 dB HL and at progressively higher SPLs with further increase in hearing loss. Correlation analysis verified a statistically significant relationship between LDL and magnitude of hearing loss. The nonlinear relationship between LDL and hearing loss together with the large intersubject variability in the data suggest that prediction of LDL from hearing threshold would often be highly inaccurate. These results also demonstrate that averaging LDL data across a group of subjects with a wide range of hearing loss may lead to inaccurate conclusions regarding the effects of sensorineural hearing loss on LDL.


2014 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 37-38
Author(s):  
Ian C. Bickle

This middle-aged gentleman with no previous medical history presented to the local ENT outpatient clinic complaining of right-sided hearing loss.  No history of trauma or previous head and neck surgery was elicited. Following clinical and auditory assessment a right sensorineural hearing loss was confirmed.  A right-sided facial palsy was additionally identified on examination. A MRI of the internal auditory meati was performed (Figure 1a & 1b).  Following radiologist review, MRI and MRA of the brain was undertaken.   DISCUSSION   Auditory impairment is a condition with a legion of potential causes. One of the routine aspects of the assessment process for those with sensorineural hearing loss is MR imaging (MRI) of the internal auditory meati (IAMS).   The vast majority of MRI studies are normal, however one of the more commonly identified pathologies are cerebrovascular abnormalities. The most well recognised is neurovascular conflict of the vestibulocochlear nerve by a vascular loop at the root entry zone (REZ), however a broader range of potential responsible structural abnormalities are known. A wide range of processes for auditory dysfunction have been outlined.1 These include; cerebral ischaemia events, subarachnoid haemorrhage, cerebrovascular malformations and rarely dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs).   Dural AVF's are abnormal vascular communications between the dural venous sinuses and an arter(ies) - most frequently branches of the external carotid artery. Sensorineural hearing impairment is one of the rarer presenting symptoms. The mechanism for hearing impairment is believed to result from either direct vascular compression on the vestibulocochlear nerve from an enlarged aberrant draining vein or from a vascular steal phenomenon (Figures 2a & 2b). An engorged draining vein from the dAVF causing mechanical compression on the nerve is the most well recognized.2 A single prior case has been reported of compression from an intraossesous dAVF of the skull base.3   The arteriovenous fistula may be directed identified (Figure 3) along with the associated signs of enlarged cerebral cortical veins and white matter change of venous hypertension (Figure 4).  


Life ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 360
Author(s):  
Jan Boeckhaus ◽  
Nicola Strenzke ◽  
Celine Storz ◽  
Oliver Gross ◽  
◽  
...  

Most adults with Alport syndrome (AS) suffer from progressive sensorineural hearing loss. However, little is known about the early characteristics of hearing loss in children with AS. As a part of the EARLY PRO-TECT Alport trial, this study was the first clinical trial ever to investigate hearing loss in children with AS over a timespan of up to six years Nine of 51 children (18%) had hearing impairment. Audiograms were divided into three age groups: in the 5–9-year-olds, the 4-pure tone average (4PTA) was 8.9 decibel (dB) (n = 15) in those with normal hearing and 43.8 dB (n = 2, 12%) in those with hearing impairment. Among the 10–13-year-olds, 4PTA was 4.8 dB (healthy, n = 12) and 41.4 dB (hearing impaired, n = 6.33%). For the 14–20-year-olds, the 4PTA was 7.0 dB (healthy; n = 9) and 48.2 dB (hearing impaired, n = 3.25%). On average, hearing thresholds of the hearing impaired group increased, especially at frequencies between 1–3 kHz. In conclusion, 18% of children developed hearing loss, with a maximum hearing loss in the audiograms at 1–3 kHz. The percentage of children with hearing impairment increased from 10% at baseline to 18% at end of trial as did the severity of hearing loss.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document