eMedicine Specialties > Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery > Inner Ear

Inner Ear, Presbycusis: Differential Diagnoses & Workup

Author: Peter S Roland, MD, Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery, Professor and Chairman, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Director of Clinical Center for Auditory, Vestibular and Facial Nerve Disorders, Chief of Pediatric Otology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Adjunct Professor of Communicative Disorders, University of Texas School of Human Development
Coauthor(s): Joe Walter Kutz Jr, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Michelle C Marcincuk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Consulting Staff, Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology, Texas Health Care, PLLC
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Jul 9, 2008

Differential Diagnoses

Inner Ear, Autoimmune Disease
Middle Ear, Chronic Suppurative Otitis, Medical Treatment
Inner Ear, Genetic Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Middle Ear, Granulomatous Diseases
Inner Ear, Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
Middle Ear, Inflammatory Diseases
Inner Ear, Ototoxicity
Middle Ear, Otosclerosis
Inner Ear, Perilymphatic Fistula
Skull Base, Acoustic Neuroma (Vestibular Schwannoma)
Inner Ear, Sudden Hearing Loss
Skull Base, Petrous Apex, Infection
Inner Ear, Syndromic Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Skull Base, Petrous Apex, Tumors
Middle Ear, Acute Otitis Media, Medical Treatment
Temporal Bone Fractures
Middle Ear, Benign Tumors
Middle Ear, Cholesteatoma

Workup

Laboratory Studies

Evaluation may entail a variety of tests, including blood tests for autoimmune-induced hearing loss.

Imaging Studies

Evaluation may entail a variety of tests, including CT scanning or MRI to exclude anatomic abnormalities or mass lesions that may cause hearing loss.

Other Tests

  • Audiometric testing with pure-tone average and speech discrimination forms the cornerstone of diagnostic testing for presbycusis.
  • The need for additional testing can usually be determined from the audiometric test results. For example, individuals with asymmetric hearing loss (ie, more than 10 dB difference at any 2 consecutive frequencies) and individuals with a conductive component require further evaluation.
  • Evaluation may entail a variety of tests, including tests of central auditory processing to exclude abnormal processing of auditory information in the central nervous system.

More on Inner Ear, Presbycusis

Overview: Inner Ear, Presbycusis
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Inner Ear, Presbycusis
Treatment & Medication: Inner Ear, Presbycusis
Follow-up: Inner Ear, Presbycusis
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

presbycusis, age-induced hearing loss, hearing loss, inner ear, sensorineural hearing impairment, sensory presbycusis, neural presbycusis, metabolic presbycusis, strial presbycusis, mechanical presbycusis, cochlear conductive presbycusis

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Peter S Roland, MD, Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery, Professor and Chairman, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Director of Clinical Center for Auditory, Vestibular and Facial Nerve Disorders, Chief of Pediatric Otology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Adjunct Professor of Communicative Disorders, University of Texas School of Human Development
Peter S Roland, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Auditory Society, American Laryngological Rhinological and Otological Society, American Neurotology Society, American Otological Society, North American Skull Base Society, and Society of University Otolaryngologists-Head and Neck Surgeons
Disclosure: Alcon labs Honoraria Speaking and teaching; GSK Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Advanced Bionics Honoraria Board membership; Cochlear corp Honoraria Board membership; Med El corp travel grants Consulting

Coauthor(s)

Joe Walter Kutz Jr, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Joe Walter Kutz Jr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Neurotology Society, American Neurotology Society, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Michelle C Marcincuk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Consulting Staff, Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology, Texas Health Care, PLLC
Michelle C Marcincuk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Medical Association, Texas Medical Association, and Triological Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Jack A Shohet, MD, Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California Irvine; Otolaryngologist, Shohet Ear Associates Medical Group, Inc
Jack A Shohet, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Medical Association, American Neurotology Society, American Tinnitus Association, and California Medical Association
Disclosure: Envoy Medical Consulting fee Consulting

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Managing Editor

Gerard J Gianoli, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine; Vice President, The Ear and Balance Institute; Chief Executive Officer, Ponchartrain Surgery Center
Gerard J Gianoli, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Neurotology Society, American Otological Society, Society of University Otolaryngologists-Head and Neck Surgeons, and Triological Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Christopher L Slack, MD, Otolaryngology-Facial Plastic Surgery, Private Practice, Associated Coastal ENT; Medical Director, Treasure Coast Sleep Disorders
Christopher L Slack, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and American Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA, Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine
Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and American Head and Neck Society
Disclosure: Covidien Corp Consulting fee Consulting; US Tobacco Corporation unstricted gift unknown; Axis Three Corporation Ownership interest Consulting; Omni Biosciences Ownership interest Consulting; Sentegra Ownership interest Board membership; Syndicom Ownership interest Consulting; Oxlo  Consulting; Medvoy Ownership interest Management position

 
 
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