Analysis of hearing loss after shunt placement in patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus.

OBJECT: Following shunt placement for treatment of normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), several patients suffered hearing loss. The authors undertook a study to analyze this outcome.

METHODS

Sixteen patients in whom NPH was diagnosed were treated by placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Their hearing was assessed pre- and postoperatively by using pure tone audiometry. Two thirds of the ears tested showed a postoperative hearing loss of more than 10 dB. Recovery of the hearing loss occurred 6 to 12 weeks after shunt placement in 75% of the ears examined.

CONCLUSIONS

Although shunt insertion for treatment of NPH results in a decrease in hearing, most of the loss can be recovered.