Normal hearing in acoustic neuroma patients: a critical evaluation

Am J Otol. 1996 Jan;17(1):127-32.

Abstract

A series of 128 acoustic neuromas (ANs) managed in our center in the last 6 years were evaluated. Sixteen cases (12.5%) were found to have normal pure tone audiograms. A comparatively younger age was an important characteristic of these patients. Tinnitus, dysequilibrium, and subjective hearing loss or distortion were their most common complaints. Pure tone audiometry showed a mean pure tone average of 14.5 dB. Speech discrimination score and performance intensity phonetically balanced index were very insensitive and showed very high false-negative results. Auditory brainstem responses proved to be a reliable test, being positive in 93.8% of cases. The mean tumor size did not show any significant difference when compared with acoustic neuroma cases with abnormal hearing. The combination of otologic and neurotologic symptoms in a young patient should prompt the clinician to investigation further even if hearing is within normal limits. A high index of suspicion is a prerequisite for the early diagnosis of such subtle lesions.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Audiometry, Pure-Tone
  • Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / surgery
  • Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem
  • Female
  • Hearing / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuroma, Acoustic / pathology*
  • Neuroma, Acoustic / surgery
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Speech Discrimination Tests
  • Vestibulocochlear Nerve / pathology*
  • Vestibulocochlear Nerve / surgery