Unilateral sensorineural deafness contemporary aspects of etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

Introduction. Unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) affects people of any age, can present as an acute or progressive process, and can range from mild to profound. Although the vast majority of cases have an unknown cause, known causes of unilateral SNHL must be excluded, including neoplasms, stroke, demyelinating and autoimmune diseases, infections, trauma, perilymphatic fistula and Meniere's disease. Aim of study. The given study needs to be studied because many children with unilateral deafness are still not identified and diagnosed in time and need special attention to be evaluated, diagnosed, and treated for a better quality of life. Methods and materials. The clinical observation sheets of the patients in the Republican Center of Audiology, Hearing Prosthetics and Pedagogical Rehabilitation served as study materials. 245 patients with unilateral deafness were selected. The age of the patients varied between 5 months and 17 years. Results. Following the study of the 1211 files of patients with different types of hearing impairment, the patients with the diagnosis of confirmed unilateral sensorineural deafness were selected, being 245 (20.25%) in number. The male gender predominates in the study group 173(70.61%) of patients, female gender-72 (29.39%) patients. The causes of deafness following the selection of children are: 11 (4.5%) posttraumatic, 6 (2.44%) postinfectious, 3 (1.22%) acoustic trauma, 2 (0.81%) genetic malformation and the rest of unknown causes. In the nosological structure of deafness, the neurosensory type prevails in 1011 cases (90%), followed by mixed transmission types in 54 cases (5%). Of the 54 cases of mixed type deafness, 46 were congenital (4%), and 4 acquired (1%). Analyzing the information regarding the place of residence, it can be observed that the majority of children with unilateral sensorineural deafness come from the urban environment, more precisely from the municipality of Chisinau, followed by the districts of Ungheni, Cahul, Hîncești. The explanation would be the higher population density and more accessible medical services, especially audiological. Conclusion. Hearing is one of the six senses that is the basis of communication, speech development and cognitive abilities of the child, contributing to the formation of the child as a personality. Hearing impairment in children, regardless of the etiology, leaves its mark not only on the quality of life, but also on the possibility of inclusion in society. as an acute or progressive process, and can range from mil d to profound. Although the vast majority of cases have an unknown cause, known causes of unilateral SNHL must be excluded, including neoplasms, stroke, demyelinating and autoimmune diseas es, infections, trauma, perilymphatic fistula and Meniere's disease. Aim of study. The given study needs to be studied because many children wi th unilateral deafness are still not identified and diagnosed in time and need spe cial attention to be evaluated, diagnosed, and treated for a better quality of life. Methods and materials. The clinical observation sheets of the patients in th e Republican Center of Audiology, Hearing Prosthetics and Pedagogical Rehabilit ation served as study materials. 245 patients with unilateral deafness were selected. The age o f the patients varied between 5 months and 17 years. Results. Following the study of the 1211 files of patients with diff erent types of hearing impairment, the patients with the diagnosis of confirmed unilateral sensorineural deafness were selected, being 245 (20.25%) in number. The male gender predomina tes in the study group 173(70.61%) of patients, female gender-72 (29.39%) patients. The ca uses of deafness following the selection of children are: 11 (4.5%) posttraumatic, 6 (2.44%) postinfectious, 3 (1.22%) acoustic trauma, 2 (0.81%) genetic malformation and the rest of unk nown causes. In the nosological structure of deafness, the neurosensory type prevails in 1011 ca ses (90%), followed by mixed transmission types in 54 cases (5%). Of the 54 cases of mixed type deafness, 46 were congenital (4%), and 4 acquired (1%). Analyzing the information regarding t he place of residence, it can be observed that the majority of children with unilateral sens orineural deafness come from the urban environment, more precisely from the municipality of Chisina u, followed by the districts of Ungheni, Cahul, Hîncești. The explanation would be the hig her population density and more accessible medical services, especially audiological. Conclusion. Hearing is one of the six senses that is the basis o f communication, speech development and cognitive abilities of the child, contributing to the formation of the child as a personality. Hearing impairment in children, regardless of the etiology, leaves its mark not only on the quality of life, but also on the possibility of incl usion in society.