About Eric P. Wilkinson, MD Expertise I am a board-certified otolaryngologist with additional subspecialty training in otology, neurotology, and skull base surgery. This is the subspecialty of otolaryngology that involves the ear, hearing, balance organs, the facial nerve, and surgery of the skull base including surgery for acoustic neuroma and other benign and malignant tumors of the base of the skull.
Experience Medical school, residency in otolaryngology, fellowship in otology/neurotology/skull base surgery
Organizations American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
North American Skull Base Society
American Neurotology Society
Publications Laryngoscope Otology and Neurotology
Education/Credentials MD Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 2001
Otolaryngology Residency, University of Iowa Department of Otolaryngology, Iowa City, IA
Otology/Neurotology Fellowship, House Ear Clinic, Los Angeles, CA
Expert: Eric P. Wilkinson, MD Date: 8/1/2007 Subject: ABR Test, Symptoms
Question 41yo Male, Gradual left hearing loss, tinnitus, imbalance and occasional numbness of left lips and cheek. Went to ENT. Audiogram results were unilateral sensorial loss. He ordered CT Scan, no contrast. Came back negative for Vestibular scwanoma. Had ABR test which came back abnormal delays on the left ear. Went to neurotologist. Audiogram results were conductive hearing loss. Diagnosis of Otosclerosis. My questions are : Would abnormal ABR go along with otosclerosis diagnosis? Also, Balance and numbness issues getting worse. Any ties to otosclerosis? I'm set up for a laser Stapedotomy in 3 weeks. Mother had Vestibular Schwanoma 8 years prior.
Answer A unilateral sensorineural loss is not consistent with otosclerosis. If it is a mixed loss, then that may be consistent. If there is a significant neural component an MRI with contrast is mandatory--a CT is not sufficient to rule out acoustic neuroma.
