Vestibular neuropathy accompanying auditory and peripheral neuropathies

Abstract

Objective: To define the incidence of measurable vestibular disorders in patients with auditory and peripheral neuropathies.

Design: Descriptive study of the case features of auditory neuropathy in 14 patients, 8 of whom had concomitant peripheral neuropathies.

Setting: University referral center.

Patients: Fourteen patients aged from 10 to 75 years and diagnosed as having auditory neuropathy, 8 of whom had concomitant peripheral neuropathies.

Main outcome measures: Incidence of abnormal vestibular caloric test results and the relationship of such incidence to clinical variables including the ages of the subjects, the presence of a concomitant peripheral neuropathy, vestibular symptoms, and audiological findings.

Results: Abnormal vestibular caloric test results occurred in 9 of the 14 patients. These 9 patients were on average older (35.6 years) than patients with normal caloric responses (17.8 years). Seven of the 9 patients with abnormal caloric responses had concomitant peripheral neuropathies compared with only 1 of the 5 patients with normal caloric responses. None of the 14 patients experienced symptoms of vestibular disorder.

Conclusions: Asymptomatic vestibular disorders are common in patients with auditory neuropathy when a peripheral neuropathy is also present. The reason for the abnormal vestibular test results is likely a neuropathy of the vestibular nerves. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2000;126:1453-1456