Assessment of Otolith Function with Subjective Visual Vertical Test in Sensorineural Hearing Loss: An Analytical Cross - Sectional Study

AbstractThe inner ear is responsible for balance and auditory function. Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) affects auditory function across various age groups. Vestibular apparatus, particularly the otolith organ can also be affected in cases of SNHL because of the close proximity of the otolith organs with the cochlea inside the bony labyrinth. The otolith organs can be assessed with Subjective Visual vertical test (SVV), which is a simple, rapid, non-invasive test with high sensitivity and specificity. Present study was conducted with the objective to compare the SVV parameters between normal and SNHL patients and to correlate between the degree of tilt in SVV with severity of SNHL. A convenient sample size of 60 was taken of which 30 were control and 30 were SNHL patients. PTA and SVV were performed on both groups and results were analysed in IBM SPSS version 26. Age stratified analysis between the control group and SNHL group for the age group 20 –40 years and for>  40 years revealed a significant statistical difference in the average static SVV (P = 0.019 andP = 0.009 for age group 20–40 years and>  40 years respectively) and dynamic anti clockwise SVV (P = 0.024 andP = 0.031 for age group 20–40 years, and>  40 years respectively) between the control group and the SNHL group. Correlational analysis also shows a moderate correlation between the bone conduction threshold and the various SVV parameters. Statistical difference of SVV param...
Source: Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery - Category: ENT & OMF Source Type: research