Taste and acoustic reflex after recovery from facial muscle paralysis in patients with facial nerve palsy

Abstract

Background There are few studies on taste or acoustic reflex (AR) in patients after recovery from facial muscle paralysis (FMP). Objectives To investigate the recovery of AR and taste in patients who have recovered from peripheral facial nerve palsy (FNP). Materials and methods The study included 25 patients whose FMP had resolved after treatment for FNP. A difference in taste threshold of ≤4 dB between the affected and unaffected sides in the electric taste test was defined as normal; an AR on the affected side was assessed to be ≥90% of the AR on the unaffected side was defined as normal. Results Six months after treatment, 8% of patients with FNP who had recovered from FMP still showed taste disorders, and 60% of patients showed abnormal AR. The number of subjects whose electric taste threshold was normal after treatment was significantly higher than the number of subjects whose AR assessment was normal (p < .01). Conclusion and significance This study demonstrates that even among subjects whose FMP is resolved after treatment for FNP, there are some whose taste and AR do not recover. Physicians should be aware of ear symptoms persisting after facial muscle recovery.