Large vestibular aqueduct syndrome

  With the development of modern science and technology, the level of diagnosis has improved and many new diseases have been discovered. LVAS is a new deafness-causing disease that was only discovered in the late 1970s with the introduction of CT, mainly manifesting as fluctuating sensorineural deafness and vertigo in young children. 1978 was officially named LVAS, and research has now determined that it is a genetic disease, a genetic defect with chromosomal localization 7q31, and the defect exists between D7S501 and The defect exists between D7S2425 and D7S501. It is uncomplicated recessive and does not combine with other inner ear malformations except for enlargement of the vestibular aqueduct. The vestibular aqueduct is 0.5-1.4 mm in normal subjects, and is enlarged if it is larger than 1.4 mm. The vestibular canal connects the vestibular canal to the endolymphatic sac, and a normal-sized vestibular canal is necessary to maintain the metabolism of the endolymphatic fluid. When the vestibular aqueduct is enlarged due to congenital abnormalities, endolymphatic fluid can back up from the endolymphatic sac to the cochlea or vestibule via the enlarged vestibular aqueduct, damaging sensory hair cells and causing deafness or vertigo. The presence of large vestibular aqueduct in 1% of the patients with ear imaging; the hearing of the children is usually close to normal at birth, and most of them develop at the age of 3-4 years; colds and trauma are often the causes of the disease, and even minor trauma can cause severe sensorineural deafness and vertigo; treatment with neurotrophic agents has some effect, and some children’s hearing can be restored to the original level, but it is still poorer than normal children’s hearing, and hearing tends to fluctuate. There is no special treatment for this condition. Early detection and preventive measures can slow down the development of the disease, the child’s hearing is close to normal after birth, although in the subclinical stage, but careful parents will find that the child speaks late, slurred speech, hearing loss after episodes of sensation or trauma is sometimes reversible, such as timely access to the hospital otology hearing and balance function examination can help diagnose, do temporal bone CT scan examination can confirm the diagnosis, early confirmation of the syndrome and take preventive measures, especially to prevent head bumps. In particular, the prevention of head bumps may help to maintain more hearing reserve and prevent serious hearing loss due to repeated trauma. For those with significant hearing loss that affects speech and language communication, hearing aids can be fitted and speech training can be provided. For children with severe deafness, early cochlear implantation surgery is recommended if possible, which is expensive but currently the only way to improve hearing.