Stapedial Synkinesis Causing Change in Hearing Threshold With Facial Motion

• DOI: 10.1097/mao.0b013e31827f1909
• Publication Date: 2013-01-31T13:19:22Z
• Authors: Michal A. Brichacek; Michael G. Brandt; John P. Carey; Patrick J. Byrne
• Keywords: Synkinesis; Facial muscles; Facial paralysis; Acoustic reflex

Synkinetic facial movement after nerve regeneration is a well-documented phenomenon. Rarely, patients recovering from injury report feelings of auditory ringing, fullness, and sensation ear tightness as result stapedial muscle involvement. It exceedingly rare for such synkinesis to produce perceivable changes in hearing threshold. We unique case causing pure-tone threshold with activation the musculature.A single patient presented who developed suboccipital resection unilateral acoustic neuroma.Despite sparing, surgery resulted House-Brackmann grade V/VI right paralysis that improved Grade III/VI 7 months. Synkinesis caused eye closure puckering lips. Puckering lips likewise decreased ear, corresponding measured decrease 10 dB PTA. Over next several months, motion continued improve, became less bothersome, so no intervention was undertaken.The fit within classically described 15-dB attenuation provided by reflex. Although undertaken this particular case, some unremitting might benefit sectioning muscle. Thus, consideration should be made audiometric evaluation without contraction individuals synkinetic movement.