Preserved Hearing Following Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery

Abstract

Audiologic test results were reviewed for 30 patients whose hearing was preserved following eighth nerve tumor surgery. Speech reception thresholds, 4,000-Hz thresholds, acoustic reflexes, and ABR wave I absolute latencies were generally unchanged or poorer following surgery; word recognition scores were essentially unchanged. By contrast, ABR waves III and V, and the I–III and I–V interpeak intervals, were generally improved postoperatively, including several patients who had clear waves following surgery despite absent preoperative responses. The improved ABR tracings likely indicate increased neural synchrony due to reduced pressure on the cochlear nerve following surgery, whereas the reduced hearing sensitivity probably reflects cochlear damage coincident to the surgery.