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Objective: To determine the prevalence and distribution of inner-ear malformations in congenital single-sided deafness cases, as details of malformation type are crucial for disease prognosis and management. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of 90 patients aged under 16 years with congenital single-sided deafness. Radiological findings were evaluated using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Inner-ear malformations were identified and cochlear nerve status was determined in affected ears. Results: Out of 90 ears, 42 (46.7 per cent) were found to have inner-ear malformation. Isolated cochlear aperture stenosis was the most common anomaly (n = 18, 20 per cent), followed by isolated cochlear aperture atresia (n = 11, 12.2 per cent) and cochlear hypoplasia (n = 7, 7.8 per cent). Cochlear nerve deficiency was encountered in 41 ears (45.6 per cent). The internal auditory canal was also stenotic in 49 ears (54.4 per cent). Conclusion: Inner-ear malformations, especially cochlear aperture anomalies, are involved in the aetiology of single-sided deafness more than expected. The cause of single-sided deafness differs greatly between congenital and adult-onset cases. All children with single-sided deafness should undergo radiological evaluation, as the prognosis and management, as well as the aetiology, may be significantly influenced by inner-ear malformation type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: We aimed to study the influence of age, in normal hearing individuals, on: the masking level difference test, the speech recognition in noise test, the transient evoked otoacoustic emissions test, and the contralateral transient evoked otoacoustic emission suppression test. We also aimed to research the effect of age when using these tests to evaluate the central auditory nervous system., Methods: Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions and contralateral transient evoked otoacoustic emission suppression were measured in all subjects. Subjects also underwent masking level difference and speech recognition in noise tests., Results: We found a decrease in transient evoked otoacoustic emission amplitudes, speech recognition in noise scores and hearing thresholds with age. We also found that higher masking level difference values were associated with lower speech recognition in noise scores and contralateral transient evoked otoacoustic emission suppression values., Conclusion: We conclude that decreasing speech recognition in noise scores are associated with decreasing contralateral transient evoked otoacoustic emission supression values. This effect may be related to medial efferent system dysfunction.

The aetiology of Ménière's disease still remains unknown and its therapy is therefore empirical. As a result of immunological abnormalities demonstrated, steroids are commonly used in Ménière's disease. The place of topical steroids is still controversial. In this investigation topical dexamethasone is applied for three months through a ventilation tube in patients with intractable vertigo. The results showed that this treatment controls vertigo in 72 per cent of cases. No patient was worse than before treatment. Only in 17 per cent of the patients was there an increase in hearing level. When compared to the reports which used only tympanostomy tubes, this procedure seems to have a placebo effect with minimal harmful effects. It appears that transtympanic dexamethasone application is a good alternative to vestibular nerve section. Topical treatment may be sufficient in most patients. Systemic treatment may be used in patients where topical treatment fails.