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Abstract
Previously, unilateral hearing impairment (UHI) has been considered of little consequence. However, a recent meta-analysis of children with UHI displayed educational and behavioural problems and possible delays of speech and language development. Further, patients with UHI consequently report hearing difficulties. Our study investigated hearing function, possible inner ear protection, and self-assessed hearing problems in 57 subjects aged between 3–80 years with single-sided congenital ear malformations and conductive UHI. Pure-tone thresholds and speech recognition (quiet, noise) were measured, and all patients completed a self-assessment questionnaire. Pure-tone thresholds corresponding to sensorineural function did not significantly differ between the normal (air conduction) and affected ear (bone conduction). However, speech recognition in both quiet and in noise was normal on the non-affected side but significantly worse on the malformed side. A moderate to high degree of self-assessed hearing problems were reported. In conclusion, hearing function in the affected ear was found to be subnormal in terms of supra threshold signal processing. Furthermore, a high degree of hearing difficulty was reported. Therefore, active treatment, surgery, or hearing amplification, might be considered.
| Abbreviations | ||
| AC | = | Air conduction |
| BAHA | = | Bone anchored hearing aid |
| BC | = | Bone conduction |
| CI | = | Confidence interval |
| PB | = | Phonemically balanced |
| PTA | = | Pure tone average |
| SD | = | Standard deviation |
| SII | = | Speech intelligibility index |
| SPBN | = | Swedish phonemically balanced words in noise |
| UHI | = | Unilateral hearing impairment |
| Abbreviations | ||
| AC | = | Air conduction |
| BAHA | = | Bone anchored hearing aid |
| BC | = | Bone conduction |
| CI | = | Confidence interval |
| PB | = | Phonemically balanced |
| PTA | = | Pure tone average |
| SD | = | Standard deviation |
| SII | = | Speech intelligibility index |
| SPBN | = | Swedish phonemically balanced words in noise |
| UHI | = | Unilateral hearing impairment |
Sumario
Se ha considerado que el déficit auditivo unilateral (UHI) es de pocas consecuencias. Sin embargo, un reciente meta-análisis de niños con UHI mostró problemas conductuales y posibles retrasos en el desarrollo del habla y lenguaje. Más aún, pacientes con UHI también reportaron dificultades auditivas. Nuestro estudio investigó la función auditiva, la posible preservación del oído interno y la auto evaluación de problemas auditivos, en 57 sujetos con edades entre 3-80 años, con malformaciones congénitas unilaterales de oído y UHI conductiva. Se midieron los umbrales con tonos puros y para reconocimiento del lenguaje (con y sin ruido) y todos los pacientes completaron el cuestionario de auto evaluación. Los umbrales con tonos puros correspondientes a la función sensorineural, no difirieron significativamente entre el oído normal (vía aérea) y el afectado (vía ósea). No obstante, el reconocimiento del lenguaje con y sin ruido fue normal en el lado no afectado pero significativamente peor en el lado de la malformación. Se reportó un grado entre moderado y alto de problemas auditivos auto-evaluados. En conclusión, la función auditiva en el oído afectado se apreció como subnormal en términos del procesamiento supraliminar de señales. Más aún, se reportó un alto grado de dificultad auditiva. Por ello, debería considerarse el tratamiento activo, la cirugía y la amplificación auditiva.