Characteristics of ear fullness in patients with low frequency sudden deafness and their relationship

Zhou En; Liu Bin; Zhao Peng; Huang Xueqiong; Yuan Minghao; Xiao Xuping

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1672-2922.2017.02.012

Abstract：Objective To report clinical features and prognosis of ear fullness sensation in and its relationship with low frequency sudden deafness. Methods Imaging and audiological data were obtained in 35 patients with unilater-al low frequency sudden hearing loss and ear fullness sensation and in 32 patients without ear fullness sensation. More-over, VAS scale scores and subjective grading of ear fullness sensation were acquired in patients with aural fullness. Changes of otoacoustic emissions and auditory evoked potentials were compared between the two groups to investigate prognostic values of ear fullness and analyze its relationship with hearing loss. Results There was no significant differ-ence between the two groups of patients with otoacoustic emissions and brainstem evoked potentials (χ2=1.486,1.029;P>0.05). Subjective grading of ear fullness was positively correlated with the degree of hearing loss(r=0.344,P<0.05). The total rate of hearing improvement following treatments in patients with ear fullness was 91.4% (32/35), slightly higher than that in patients with no ear fullness (84.4%, 27/32) (χ2=0.791,P>0.05). Ear fullness improved in 31 of the 35 patients (88.6%), and the improvement of ear fullness was related to improvement of hearing(χ2=9.891,P<0.05)(r=0.469, P<0.05). Conclusions The degree of hearing loss was positively correlated with the degree of ear fullness in patients with low frequency sudden deafness when they also have sensation of ear fullness. The prognosis of ear full-ness is better than hearing loss, which is also related to hearing recovery. Hearing recovery in patients with aural fullness appears to be slightly better than in patients without ear fullness,although further studies are needed.