Reduced hearing

Low frequency conductive hearing loss is a classic symptom. After the majority of operations, hearing remains unchanged.  Rarely is hearing improved.  It is more common for hearing to get worse than better.  The overall incidence of severe hearing loss varies from surgeon to surgeon, ranging from 4% to 10%. While severe hearing loss (even total hearing loss) is always a risk with these surgeries, certain patients are in a higher risk category e.g. those with pre-existing hearing loss, a very large dehiscence, in addition to technological indicators such as large air-bone gap, very low VEMP threshold etc.