Audiovestibular profile in unilateral chronic suppurative otitis media.

AudioIogical tests including middle ear impedance test and vestibular function tests were administered to seventyfive patients of unilateral chronic suppurative otitis media. These patients were selected so as to exclude the influence of hereditory, drugs, systemic illness and the factors of aging. The subjects were subdivided into 3 groups : group 1 cases with central perforation; group 2 with marginal and group 3 with attic perforation respectively. On pure tone audiometry, 19 diseased ears (25.3%) showed sensorineural hearing loss of 40 dB or more at 4 KHz and 8 KHz. The difference in the mean bone conduction threshold of diseased and the nondiseased ears was statistically significant at 4 KHz and above. Results of specialised tests of hearing suggested cochlear pathology being responsible for sensorneural hearing loss. Electronystagmographic recording of saccades and bithermal caloric induced nystagmus revealed canal paresis on the diseased side in 4 patients (5.3%). These 4 patients had 15 years history of otorrhoea.