Sensorineural Hearing Loss due to Vascular Occlusion

Speculation from Physiological Stand Point of the Inner Ear

Abstract

One of accepted etiologies of sudden deafness is the vascular occlusion. In this paper hearing loss due to vascular occlusions in the arteries or arterioles which supply oxygen to the inner ear are discussed. The occlusions in the anterior cerebellar artery, labyrinthine artery or common cochlear artery may cause vertigo and unreversible sensorineural hearing loss. The occlusion in the anterior vestibular artery causes only vertigo. The occlusion in the vestibulocochlear artery causes unreversible hearing loss. If blood supply returns to normal, hearing in low and middle frequencies may be able to recover. The occlusion in the external radiating arteriole at basal turn damages the stria vascularis and magnitude of endochlear DC potential would suppose to decrease in all cochlear turns. Hearing loss in all frequencies must occur. If blood supply returns to normal, hearing loss may be able to recover. The occlusion in the common cochlear artery causes unreversible hearing loss in low and middle frequencies. The occlusion in the external radiating arteriole ramified from the common cochlear artery may cause reversible low and middle frequency hearing loss. The occlusion in the internal radiating arteriole must cause unreversible dip-type hearing loss.