PERILYMPHATIC FISTULA IN TEENS AND YOUNG-ADULTS - EMPHASIS ON PREEXISTING SENSORINEURAL HEARING-LOSS

Sudden hearing loss and new-onset vestibular disorders can be caused b y perilymphatic fistulas (PLFs). In children, the existence of a sever e or profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) has been associated wi th a perilymphatic fistula when a sudden hearing loss or vestibular di sturbance occurs. Likewise, at the other end of the age spectrum, seve ral large series of PLFs in adulthood have been presented. This report focuses on a neglected age group, those in their teens and young adul thood. Twenty-three patients between the ages of 17 and 26 were studie d who had a preexisting SNHL and had developed an additional hearing l oss, a new vestibular disturbance, or both. An age-matched cohort of 2 1 patients with normal hearing was examined in relation to their medic al history, diagnostic rests, and surgical outcome of a perilymphatic fistula repair. The findings of this report suggest that persons who h ave a preexisting SNHL are more likely to develop a perilymphatic fist ula eventually than are persons with normal hearing.