The use of otoacoustic emission in the assessment of the organ of hearing in children and adolescents with peripheral facial nerve palsy

Introduction Audiological diagnostics in patients with peripheral facial nerve palsy is a very interesting issue. Despite the obvious anatomical correlations between structures of the middle and inner ear and the course of the facial nerve in the available literature only several publications concerning this issue may be found. Aim The aim of this work was hearing evaluation in children and adolescents with peripheral facial nerve palsy with the use of otoacoustic emission. Material and methods Baseline test was conducted in 15 patients with peripheral facial nerve palsy. It included transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE). Follow-up test was conducted 3 months after the first test. It included distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE). Result In the first and follow-up test all patients achieved PASS result both on facial nerve palsy and the opposite side. Mean values of S/N ratio for the tested frequencies between healthy and compromised side did not differ both in baseline and follow-up test. Discussion Symptoms accompanying facial nerve palsy include sudden increase of sound perception and distortion of understanding of speech. The above phenomena are typical for cochlear function impairment. It may also be associated with extracochlear damage of the cochlear nerve. Conclusions Results of otoacoustic emission testing confirmed proper function of the inner ear in all of the study patients both in baseline and follow-up.