Hearing Loss

Question 1

Sensorineural causes of unilateral hearing loss - 2

Answer 1

Meniere’s Disease

Acoustic neuroma’s

Question 2

Sensorineural causes of bilateral hearing loss:

• age-related
• noise - induced
• drugs
• congenital

Answer 2

Presbycusis
Noise-induced - high frequency loss
Drug toxicity - aminoglycosides, furosemide, aspirin
Congenital - CMV, rubella etc.

Question 3

Conductive causes of unilateral hearing loss

Answer 3

Impacted ear wax
Glue ear (uni/bi)
Infection - otitis media/externa
Cholesteatoma

Question 4

Conductive causes of bilateral hearing loss

Answer 4

Otosclerosis
Glue ear (uni/bi)

Question 5

Investigations - 2

Answer 5

Pure tone audiometry to hearing across range of frequencies, plotting on audiogram

Tympanometry - measures pressure in the middle ear and tympanic membrane compliance

Question 6

Presbycusis

What is it?

What frequency does it mainly affect?

Rx?

Answer 6

Age-related bilateral sensorineural hearing loss

Higher frequencies

Hearing aids

Question 7

What test is used in newborns to test for hearing?

Answer 7

Otoacoustic Emissions

Otoacoustic emissions are only produced by a healthy cochlea and are not usually audible but can be recorded with a specialised microphone, a useful way of determining whether or not a functioning cochlear is present. For this reason they are used in the newborn hearing screening programme.