Korean J Audiol.  2014 Sep;18(2):54-57. 10.7874/kja.2014.18.2.54.

Middle Ear Surgery in Only Hearing Ears and Postoperative Hearing Rehabilitation

• Yoo MH
• Kang BC
• Park HJ
• Yoon TH

• KMID: 1801956
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7874/kja.2014.18.2.54

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to evaluate surgical interventions and hearing rehabilitation in patients with chronic middle ear disease of only hearing ears.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
Thirty-one patients with chronic middle ear disease of only hearing ears were enrolled in this retrospective study. Patients were classified into three groups according to the hearing level: groups A [pure tone audiometry (PTA)<40], B (40< or =PTA<70), and C (PTA> or =70). We evaluated hearing results and patterns of auditory rehabilitation.
RESULTS
The main consideration for a surgical procedure was the presence of recurrent otorrhea and structural destruction. The reasons for surgical intervention in only hearing ears were otorrhea caused by chronic otitis media (68%), cholesteatoma (29%), and cholesterol granuloma (3%). The causes of contralateral deaf ears were chronic otitis media (81%) and sensorineural hearing loss (19%). Although there was hearing deterioration in some patients with severe hearing loss (PTA> or =70), all patients achieved dry ears after surgery and functional hearing using auditory rehabilitation. Hearing aids were used in most patients with moderate to moderately severe hearing loss and cochlear implants were used for auditory rehabilitation in patients with severe to profound hearing loss.
CONCLUSIONS
Proper evaluation and indications for surgery in only hearing ears are important for successful eradication of inflammation and hearing preservation. Surgical interventions can achieve dry ear and enable further auditory rehabilitations using hearing aids and cochlear implantation.

Keyword

Otitis media; Hearing loss; Deafness; Correction of hearing impairment; Rehabilitation

MeSH Terms

Audiometry
Cholesteatoma
Cholesterol
Cochlear Implantation
Cochlear Implants
Correction of Hearing Impairment
Deafness
Ear*
Ear, Middle*
Granuloma
Hearing Aids
Hearing Loss
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural
Hearing*
Humans
Inflammation
Otitis Media
Rehabilitation*
Retrospective Studies
Cholesterol