Hearing Impairment in 351 Middle Ear Cholesteatomas

Abstract

Objectives: 1) Analyze the hearing loss in ears with cholesteatoma 2) Verify differences between children and adults. Methods: A cross sectional study involving 351 ears with middle ear cholesteatoma and no previous surgery submitted to pure tone audiometry between August 2000 and January 2013. The air and bone conduction thresholds and the air-bone gaps were compared. Statistical analysis was performed using student t test. Results: The mean age was 31.5 ± 18.1 years old. 53.4% were men and 65.3% adults. The tritonal air and bone conduction thresholds media were 43.2 ± 18.7dB and 14.3 ± 12.8dB, respectively. The tritonal air-bone gaps media was 28.9 ± 13.8dB. Profound hearing loss was found in only 3.4% (8 adults and 4 children). The air and bone conduction thresholds were significantly greater in adults in all frequencies ( P < 0.001). When the air-bone gaps were compared between the two groups, however, children had greater values in 500Hz ( P = 0.05). There were no other differences between the groups in the further frequencies. Conclusions: Middle ear cholesteatoma is associated with significant hearing impairment although profound hearing loss is rare. Adults have greater thresholds in air and bone conduction than children. The air bone gaps are similar between the groups but can be greater in children.