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Abstract Objective This study compared the prevalence of sudden deafness (SD) in children to investigate the evolution of pediatric SD during the past two decades. Methods From 1996 to 2005, totaling 358 SD patients were experienced. Of them, 25 patients (7%) aged <15 years were assigned to Group A. In contrast, 5 patients (2%) aged <15 years of 242 SD patients encountered during the period 2006–2015 were assigned to Group B. All patients underwent audiovestibular function testing. Results The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination reached to 95% vaccination rate in Taiwan after 1994. As 1994 (MMR vaccination years) + 11 (mean age of pediatric SD) equals 2005, this study found that declining prevalence of pediatric SD was from 7% (1996–2005) to 2% (2006–2015) at our hospital, consistent with declining annual cases of SD in Taiwan during the past decades. A significantly higher abnormality rate of mean hearing level (93%) than abnormal caloric responses (20%) was identified indicating that pediatric SD predominately affected the cochlear partition. Conclusion The prevalence of pediatric SD cases has significantly declined during the past 20 years, probably due to global vaccination policy. Other causal factors such as growing numbers of hospital and advancement in radiological diagnostic technique may also contribute to the declining prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 5 year-old boy was rather healthy until one month ago when loss of balance and muscle tone was noted by the parents. A battery of tests comprising electroencephalography, audiometry, caloric test and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP) test were performed, yet all tests showed normal responses. Conversely, cervical VEMP (cVEMP) test showed delayed responses bilaterally. MR imaging demonstrated bilaterally intrameatal vascular loops extending into both internal auditory canals. After a 3-month medication, delayed cVEMPs were resolved and returned to normal cVEMPs bilaterally, accompanied by subsidence of dysequilibrium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]