Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media

Aim: To determine that chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is associated with sensorineural hearing loss. Methods: 53 patients with unilateral chronic suppurative otitis media were included in the study. The diseased ear served as case and normal ear served as control. Patients with systemic disease, previous history of trauma, meningitis and other CNS infections were excluded from the study to eliminate other contributing factors resulting in SNHL. Results: All patients after history and examination were subjected to pure tone audiometery. Air and bone conduction thresholds were recorded at four test frequencies i.e..5 kHz, 1 kHz, 2 kHz, and 4 kHz. SNHL was defined as difference in bone conduction thresholds between diseased and control (normal) ears. All the data was analyzed statistically (student's t test). There was significant bone conduction threshold difference between diseased and control ears p 0.001. Conclusion: It was concluded that CSOM results in statistically significant SNHL.