Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Chronic Otitis Media

Abstract

The incidence and degree of sensorineural hearing loss were analyzed in 303 patients with monolateral chronic otitis media. The contralateral healthy ear served as a control. A difference greater than 10 dB in average of bone conduction thresholds at 500,1000,2000 and 4000 Hz was found in 30% of the subjects,20 dB in 16% and 30 dB in 5%. Each frequency was equally affected. Patients with prolonged disease were more likely to be affected. Significant relationship was not found between sensorineural hearing loss and the presence of cholesteatoma.