Analysis of hearing loss after shunt placement in patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus

Object. Following shunt placement for treatment of normal-pressure hydrocep halus (NPH). several patients suffered hearing loss. The authors undertook a study to analyze this outcome. Methods. Sixteen patients in whom NPH was diagnosed were treated by placeme nt of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Their hearing was assessed pre- and pos toperatively by using pure tone audiometry. Two thirds of the ears tested s howed a postoperative hearing loss of more than 10 dB. Recovery of the hear ing loss occurred 6 to 12 weeks after shunt placement in 75% of the ears ex amined. Conclusions. Although shunt insertion for treatment of NPH results in a dec rease in hearing, most of the loss can be recovered.