Imaging in children with hearing loss

Abstract

Background Since the introduction of hearing screening in Germany in 2009, pediatric hearing disorders are detected at an early stage. Early therapy is essential for language development. Imaging plays a central role in diagnosis and therapy planning.

Method Imaging findings of the most relevant causes of pediatric hearing disorders are presented. Specific attention is given to the method used in each case – CT or MRI.

Results and Conclusions While CT is the method of choice for conductive hearing loss, a combination of CT and MRI with high-resolution T2-3D sequences has been established as the best diagnostic method for sensorineural hearing loss. The most common causes of conductive hearing loss in childhood are chronic inflammation and cholesteatoma. Congenital malformations of the outer or middle ear are less frequent. In the case of sensorineural hearing loss, the cause is located in the inner ear and/or the cochlear nerve or the cerebrum. In these cases, congenital malformations are the most common cause.

Key Points 

• CT and MRI are necessary to identify morphological causes of hearing disorders and to clarify the possibility of hearing-improving ear surgery or cochlear implantation.

• Contraindications for surgical procedures must be excluded.

• Anatomical variants that may be risk factors for surgery must be described.

Citation Format

• Sorge I, Hirsch F, Fuchs M et al. Imaging diagnostics for childhood hearing loss. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2023; 195: 896 – 904

Key words

ear - MR-imaging - hearing loss - children - cochlear implantation - high-resolution CT

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 19. Januar 2023

Angenommen: 27. März 2023

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
22. Juni 2023

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