[Vestibular system in patients with sensorineural hearing loss].

A near localization of anatomical structures of an inner ear and possibility of damage caused by the same etiopathogenic factor implies that sensorineural hearing loss may be accompanied by vertigo and dizziness. The aim of a study was to evaluate a frequency of vestibular system dysfunction in patients with sensorineural hearing loss and to analyse it according to severity and type of the hearing loss. We evaluated a group of 126 persons which were treated in ENT Department during the last year from sensorineural hearing loss. In all subjects' audiological and ENG examinations were performed. A 50% of patients complained of vertigo and 30% of them--of dizziness. Abnormal ENG recordings were registered in 72% of persons especially in positional and visual ocular-motor tests. In the group without vertigo incorrect ENG tests were often recorded. In the group with vertigo the peripheral and mixed lesions in ENG examination were noted statistically more frequent. We found lack of correlation between magnitude and type of hearing loss and vestibular impairment. Only in the group-residual hearing/deafness were observed significantly more frequent peripheral vestibular dysfunction.