Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Schiff, Elliot
• Friedman, Sara A.
• Al‐Mulki, Kareem
• Lin, Juan
• Moskowitz, Howard S.

Titel

Practice Patterns in Asymmetric Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Survey Data

Ist Teil von

• The Laryngoscope, 2024-11, Vol.134 (11), p.4745-4753

Ort / Verlag

Hoboken, USA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc

Erscheinungsjahr

2024

Quelle

Wiley-Blackwell Journals

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Objective Although screening protocols for patients who present with asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss (ASNHL) exist, there are no clear guidelines to direct practitioners. In particular, various thresholds have been proposed for the degree of hearing loss that should prompt MRI studies, but the topic remains understudied. This project aims to compare protocols followed by practitioners to guide their imaging practices. Study Design Web‐based survey. Setting Otolaryngology faculty at academic medical centers. Methods A list of 530 otolaryngologists (276 otology/neurotology specialists, 254 general otolaryngologists) was compiled. A survey consisting of three parts: demographics, general practice patterns, and simulated patient cases was distributed. Results A total of 468 surveys were successfully distributed, resulting in 88 (18.8%) responses. The majority of respondents (63.8%) self‐reported their definition of ASNHL as “>30 dB hearing asymmetry at one frequency OR >20 dB hearing asymmetry at two continuous frequencies OR >10 dB hearing asymmetry at three contiguous frequencies.” Overall, general otolaryngologists were more likely to observe asymmetric findings with serial audiogram alone, whereas otology/neurotology specialists were more likely to obtain imaging. Conclusion There is significant variability between providers with regard to managing patients with ASNHL and evidence‐based guidelines would be useful in guiding imaging practices. Level of Evidence NA Laryngoscope, 134:4745–4753, 2024 This research highlights a lack of consensus among otolaryngologists in their management of patients who present with asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss (ASNHL). There is wide disparity among practitioners as to which diagnostic criteria comprise this clinical entity, and how to proceed in counseling patients. As such, this study contributes to the body of evidence calling for clinical practice guidelines for providers to use when evaluating patients with ASNHL.