Case report: two cases of hearing impairment due to intracranial hypotension

Auris Nasus Larynx. 2009 Jun;36(3):345-8. doi: 10.1016/j.anl.2008.05.016. Epub 2008 Sep 5.

Abstract

We report two cases of spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) that presented with orthostatic hearing impairment. Pure tone audiometry in case 1 and distortion-produced otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) in case 2 clearly revealed orthostatic low-frequency hearing impairment. The symptoms resolved with conservative therapy in case 1, but they did not resolve completely after three treatments with epidural blood patch in case 2. The orthostatic changes at low-frequency that were present in both examinations indicated a relative endolymphatic hydrops due to SIH. Both otological examinations were useful to infer the pathophysiology of hearing impairment associated with SIH.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Audiometry, Pure-Tone
  • Cochlea / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / diagnosis
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / etiology*
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Hypotension / complications*
  • Hypovolemia / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Posture
  • Severity of Illness Index