Observations placeholder
Tinnitus and Superior canal dehiscence syndrome
Identifier
006136
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
Superior canal dehiscence syndrome (SCDS) is a rare medical condition of the inner ear, first described in 1998 by Dr. Lloyd B. Minor of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA, leading to hearing and balance symptoms in those affected. The symptoms are caused by a thinning or complete absence of the part of the temporal bone overlying the superior semicircular canal of the vestibular system. There is evidence that this rare defect, or susceptibility, is congenital. There are also numerous cases of symptoms arising after physical trauma to the head
A description of the experience
Otol Neurotol. 2009 Apr;30(3):280-285. Auditory manifestations of superior semicircular canal dehiscence. Yuen HW, Eikelboom RH, Atlas MD. Ear Science Institute Australia, Ear Science Centre, University of Western Australia, Department of OtolaryngologyYHead & Neck Surgery, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Australia. yuen_a@yahoo.com.sg
OBJECTIVE: To understand the presenting auditory signs and symptoms and to examine the relationship between the auditory manifestations and audiometric parameters in superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD).
PATIENTS: Twenty consecutive patients with unilateral SSCD without a history of previous ontologic surgery.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Relationship between presenting symptoms and the bone-conduction thresholds and air-bone gap (ABG) on pure-tone audiometry.
RESULTS: All 20 patients presented with typical vestibular symptoms of SSCD. Seventeen (85%) patients also had auditory symptoms, including autophony (40%), hyperacusis to bodily sounds (65%), hearing loss (40%), aural pressure (45%), and tinnitus (35%). Of the 17 patients, 14 (82%) patients had an ABG on audiometry, but only 7 (41%) patients demonstrated negative bone conduction thresholds. Of 8 patients, 5 who underwent surgical repair experienced resolution of autophony and/or hyperacusis postoperatively.
CONCLUSION: Auditory symptoms are common in SSCD patients. These symptoms do not show any relationship to the presence of negative bone-conduction thresholds on pure-tone audiometry. No firm conclusion could be drawn regarding the association between symptoms and ABG. Different pathways or mechanisms may exist in SSCD for bone-conducted sounds arising from different sources. Surgical repair of the dehiscence results in resolution of auditory symptoms in most patients.
PMID: 19326497