ISSN: 2476-2490
Authors: Badou Nguessan KE, Tatsitsa Langouo YJ, Yoda M and Tanon-Anoh MJ*
Objective: to find the distribution of various malformations and to report the clinical features of commonly encountered IEMs in our practice. Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study, over a period of 14 months (January 2019 to March 2020), in the ENT departments of University Hospitals and the Mother and Child Hospital in Bingerville. All patients, aged up 15 years with computed tomography and/or MRI available, who had a cochleovestibular malformation and sensorineural or predominantly sensorineural mixed hearing loss confirmed were included. Results: The prevalence of sensorineural hearing loss related to cochleovestibular malformations was 3.75% (6 cases out of 160 patients). Patients ranged in age from 2 to 14 years. The diagnosis was made before the age of 3.5 years in 5/6 cases. The sex ratio was 1. Language delay was noted in 5/6 cases. No contributing risk factors were identified. All patients had profound and bilateral hearing loss. Associated malformations were present in 2/6 cases. The most common abnormalities were semicircular canal hypoplasia, internal auditory canal abnormalities and cochlear malformations. There was an association between sensorineural hearing loss linked to malformation and the profound degree of hearing loss. Conclusion: Sensorineural deafness linked to cochleovestibular malformations in children appears to be uncommon. However, they are associated with a risk of profound sensorineural hearing loss. It is therefore important, in the face of any sensorineural hearing loss in the child, to systematically carry out an imaging assessment, even in our low income’s countries.
Keywords: Sensorineural Deafness; Malformations; Cochlea Abnormalities; Children; Côte d’Ivoire
