ASYMMETRICAL HEARING LOSS AND MEGA CISTERNA MAGNA: A CASE STUDY.

Background: There is an unknown relationship between hearing loss, vestibular disorders, and mega cisterna magna. The purpose of this case report is to describe, for the first time, hearing and vestibular examinations and rehabilitation for an older adult with mega cisterna magna. Case Report: This study presents the case of a 54-year-old male who complained of being hard of hearing (bilaterally), tinnitus, and dizzy spells. He had a history of working in noisy environments but no familial history of hearing loss. Several audiological and vestibular tests and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were administered. The subject was counseled about hearing aids and fitted with a 'bilateral contralateral routing of signal' (BiCROS) amplification system to overcome his hearing difficulties. Conclusions: Mega cisterna magna can be either silent and cause no symptoms, or produce symptoms such as hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness. Aging and noise exposure are major causes of hearing loss and tinnitus. Further research is needed to determine the audiological and vestibular symptoms of a larger sample of patients with mega cisterna magna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]